The Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch is an enormous collection of trash that is collected and deposited by ocean currents in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean. The trash mainly comprises of plastic debris and is not only huge but is also scattered along a wide expanse making it difficult to clear up the choked-up water space.
The Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch is a phenomenon that occurs due to ocean currents swirling in the North Pacific waters. These ocean currents called the sub-tropical gyre are perpetually present in the North Pacific Ocean waters and they are the main reason behind the accumulated waste. The gyre currents move in a clockwise direction and carry the trash and the waste along in their path from the land right in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean. The entire process of the gyre collecting and depositing trash happens in the East and the West part of the Pacific Ocean, thus making the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch a convergence of the East garbage patch and the West garbage patch in the North Pacific. The resulting accumulated and huge mass of waste floating in the North Pacific now has ended up as a pathway that comes in the way and which fishermen and ships are forced to avoid.
Effects of the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch
But while humans are successful in avoiding the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch, sea animals and creatures are unable to do so and inadvertently fall prey to the plastic piled up in the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch. And the debris not only includes plastic, but also toxic substances that are completely non-biodegradable and fishing nets that end up trapping mammals like whales and dolphins which pass through the water.
The most unfortunate part however is that, the amount of waste and garbage that has piled over due to the gyre, is difficult to clean up. According to one researcher who has extensively covered the subject of the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch, the clean-up operation to clear the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch could end up making several nations bankrupt. The severity of the problem is quite evident from this statement and it is enough to make one wonder as to how to solve the problem.
The above statement is not an exaggeration. The Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch extends to several miles right in the deep sea and therefore the threat of destruction of marine life looms even larger. And in modern times, where the ecology is being troubled due to circumstances like global warming and oil spills, it becomes relevant that this unorthodox waste dump is cleared up as soon as possible.
How Can We Help?
And while it is agreed that it is quite impossible to clean-up the mess created by our oversight in the first place, it is not impossible to rectify the mistake. By using biodegradable items instead of the toxic and non-biodegradable ones, we will be able to minimise the effect of the gyre carrying and depositing the waste and thus adding to the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch. By making people aware of their mistakes regarding the use of plastics which can prove to be hazardous not just to sea creatures and mammals but also to the birds who get attracted to flashy colours and could thus lose their lives choking up on plastic, change can be brought about.
By making use of paper-bags and other alternatives that can successfully replace plastic bags, one can strive to achieve the purpose of tackling the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch. In view of taking care of the environment and its other creatures, it is crucial that we bring about a positive change in our lifestyle and that too as fast as possible.
The Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch is a phenomenon that occurs due to ocean currents swirling in the North Pacific waters. These ocean currents called the sub-tropical gyre are perpetually present in the North Pacific Ocean waters and they are the main reason behind the accumulated waste. The gyre currents move in a clockwise direction and carry the trash and the waste along in their path from the land right in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean. The entire process of the gyre collecting and depositing trash happens in the East and the West part of the Pacific Ocean, thus making the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch a convergence of the East garbage patch and the West garbage patch in the North Pacific. The resulting accumulated and huge mass of waste floating in the North Pacific now has ended up as a pathway that comes in the way and which fishermen and ships are forced to avoid.
Effects of the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch
But while humans are successful in avoiding the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch, sea animals and creatures are unable to do so and inadvertently fall prey to the plastic piled up in the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch. And the debris not only includes plastic, but also toxic substances that are completely non-biodegradable and fishing nets that end up trapping mammals like whales and dolphins which pass through the water.
The most unfortunate part however is that, the amount of waste and garbage that has piled over due to the gyre, is difficult to clean up. According to one researcher who has extensively covered the subject of the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch, the clean-up operation to clear the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch could end up making several nations bankrupt. The severity of the problem is quite evident from this statement and it is enough to make one wonder as to how to solve the problem.
The above statement is not an exaggeration. The Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch extends to several miles right in the deep sea and therefore the threat of destruction of marine life looms even larger. And in modern times, where the ecology is being troubled due to circumstances like global warming and oil spills, it becomes relevant that this unorthodox waste dump is cleared up as soon as possible.
How Can We Help?
And while it is agreed that it is quite impossible to clean-up the mess created by our oversight in the first place, it is not impossible to rectify the mistake. By using biodegradable items instead of the toxic and non-biodegradable ones, we will be able to minimise the effect of the gyre carrying and depositing the waste and thus adding to the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch. By making people aware of their mistakes regarding the use of plastics which can prove to be hazardous not just to sea creatures and mammals but also to the birds who get attracted to flashy colours and could thus lose their lives choking up on plastic, change can be brought about.
By making use of paper-bags and other alternatives that can successfully replace plastic bags, one can strive to achieve the purpose of tackling the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch. In view of taking care of the environment and its other creatures, it is crucial that we bring about a positive change in our lifestyle and that too as fast as possible.
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