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What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

Dec 10, 2024

Explore the vast expanse of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a massive collection of 1.8 trillion plastic pieces. Discover its alarming size, larger than multiple countries combined. Understand how this trash vortex forms and its devastating impact on marine life. Learn about the critical role individuals and organizations play in tackling plastic pollution. In just under three minutes, get informed about one of the ocean's biggest challenges!

04:42

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Quick takeaways

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, spanning 620,000 square miles, exemplifies the growing crisis of plastic pollution in our oceans.

Effective solutions to combat this issue include reducing plastic production and individual actions to limit single-use plastics.

Deep dives

Understanding the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also referred to as the Trash Vortex, is an enormous accumulation of plastic waste in the Pacific Ocean, consisting of approximately 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic. Formed since the 1950s as plastic became a common material, this patch spans an area of 620,000 square miles, larger than several European countries combined. Human activities are a major contributor, with about 10 million tons of plastic entering oceans each year, primarily due to single-use plastics that do not sink but rather float and circulate through ocean currents. This phenomenon illustrates a significant environmental crisis, emphasizing the urgent need for awareness and action regarding plastic pollution in our oceans.

Understanding the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and Its Environmental Impact

5min

Nicknamed the "seventh continent" or “trash vortex" the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is an expanding mass consisting of 1.8 trillion plastic waste pieces in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

According to a study by NGO The Ocean Cleanup, which was published in Scientific Reports in 2018, it covers an area of 620,000 square miles, which is bigger than France, Germany and Spain combined.

How was it formed ? What is the impact on the environment ? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions !

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A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 24/7/2023

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