Unexplainable 99% of ocean plastic is missing
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Dec 15, 2021 
Erik van Sebeel, an oceanographer from Utrecht University, unpacks the mystery of missing ocean plastic. He shares personal anecdotes, including a transformative man overboard drill that ignited his passion for marine science. The discussion reveals alarming discrepancies in plastic accumulation, particularly in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Erik emphasizes the unseen impacts on marine life and human health, stressing the urgent need for accurate data and innovative solutions to tackle this pressing environmental crisis.
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Ocean's Call
- Erik van Sebel, initially aiming to be a weatherman, went on a research trip and jumped into the Atlantic during a man overboard drill.
- This experience, feeling small in the vast ocean, inspired his shift to oceanography.
Unexpected Destination
- Erik's research on ocean currents using drifting buoys revealed an unexpected pattern: they consistently ended up in garbage patches.
- These patches, like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, are massive accumulations of ocean plastic.
The Missing Plastic
- Comparing plastic input to what's found in garbage patches reveals a vast discrepancy.
- Less than 1% of the plastic that enters the ocean is found in these patches; 99% is 'missing'.