"Great Pacific Garbage Patch" by Nsikan Akpan

Question

What weighs more than 43,000 cars and is twice the size of Texas? The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. A new analysis, published Thursday in Scientific Reports, reveals the makeup of this massive collection of floating trash in the North Pacific in a way that’s never been done before. The patch weighs 87,000 tons — 16 times more than previous estimates — and contains more than 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, the study shows. But its findings on the individual pieces of plastic inside the patch might hold the key to cleaning up this human-made mess.What the scientists did: Plastics tend to break down, due to heat and sunlight exposure, into small particles known as microplastics. In the past, scientists estimated the size of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by hopping on a boat and trawling the trash with fine nets — nets originally designed for catching plankton. Running these nets through the patch, which extends from California to Hawaii, was not only laborious, it failed to catch big things like bottles and buoys. Scientists tried counting these larger items by eye, but they could only do so for small sections of the patch. By extrapolating, they could develop a sense of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch size, but their final estimates — especially for large pieces of trash — varied dramatically. Three year ago, The Ocean Cleanup foundation opted for a more direct approach. The Netherlands-based organization hired 18 ships to trawl at different spots across the whole patch. But they used 652 nets capable of catching microplastics or larger trash. The international team took the extra step of conducting aircraft surveys — covering 120 square miles and snapping 7,300 photographs — so they could better calculate the amount of large pieces of plastic. Then, like prior studies, the team used math models and ocean current projections to estimate the scale of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.What they found: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch stretches across 617,000 square miles of the northern Pacific Ocean, based on their survey, and plastics make up 99.9 percent of the trash in the patch. And while 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic might seem extraordinary, oceanographer Laurent Lebreton of The Ocean Cleanup foundation said the composition of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the noteworthy takeaway. While microplastics made up 94 percent of the total number of pieces of plastic in the patch, they only accounted for 8 percent of the mass. That means the overwhelming bulk of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is large pieces of trash. Most are hard plastics — think plastic food containers, bottles, lids, buckets, ropes and lots of fishing nets. Fishing nets made up nearly half the plastic discovered. The large and medium-sized plastics bigger than 2 inches, known as megaplastics and macroplastics, comprised more than 75 percent of the total mass of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.Based on inscriptions, most of the plastic collected in the study originated in Asia — namely China and Japan — but that makes sense given the North Pacific Current runs west to east. The oldest piece of plastic they found dated to 1977. Why it matters: “We provide a better understanding on the distribution of plastics — on what they are, what size and how often we can find them,” Lebreton said. “That can help engineers to design solutions to collect the plastic.” Not only can conservationists use this data to design the right nets for cleaning the patch, but these numbers create a baseline for tracking the progress of the cleanup. For instance, by comparing their data to prior studies, they learned the concentration of microplastics has rapidly grown — tripling in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch since the 1970s. This summer, The Ocean Cleanup foundation will lead an expedition to remove this plastic from the sea. They hope to clean up 50 percent of the patch within the next five years. The project will cost about $370 million, which they plan to finance by selling corporate sponsorships for the cleanup vessels.But even if they wipe out the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, more trash will await. Four additional giant garbage patches exist in the ocean’s gyres, in the south Pacific, the north and south Atlantic and the Indian Oceans. Lebreton said those other patches may not contain as much trash as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, but they cover areas of similar size.
1-Where and When: (Describe the time and place where the story happens.)
2-What was your favorite part of the book? Why?
3-What are the main themes or messages of the book? What do you think the author wanted you to learn or think about? Why?
4- Would you recommend this book? Why or why not?
each answer can you please make it in a paragraph

Answer 1

1. Where and When: The story primarily takes place in the vast expanse of the North Pacific Ocean, specifically focusing on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which stretches from California to Hawaii. The analysis and findings discussed in the article were published in Scientific Reports on a Thursday, though the specific date is not mentioned. The context highlights the urgency of environmental issues related to ocean pollution, underscoring that this phenomenon is a contemporary problem exacerbated by decades of plastic consumption and waste mismanagement. The geographical and temporal settings are crucial as they illustrate the scale and immediacy of the plastic crisis affecting marine ecosystems.

2. What was your favorite part of the book? Why? One of my favorite aspects of the article is its presentation of the innovative methods used by scientists to assess the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The blend of trawling with advanced vessel technology and aerial surveys paints a vivid picture of the effort and ingenuity employed to understand the extent of plastic pollution in our oceans. This dual approach not only provided a clearer estimate of the size and composition of the debris but also highlighted the collaborative spirit of international marine scientists working together toward a common goal. It is inspiring to see how modern technology can be harnessed to tackle environmental challenges and contribute to meaningful solutions.

3. What are the main themes or messages of the book? The main themes of the article revolve around environmental stewardship, the consequences of plastic pollution, and the importance of scientific research in addressing ecological crises. The author, Nsikan Akpan, aims to impart the message that the composition and scale of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch signify a pressing challenge that requires immediate action. By emphasizing the predominance of larger plastic debris rather than just microplastics, the article encourages readers to consider not only the problem of pollution but also the feasibility of cleaning efforts. Ultimately, it advocates for collective awareness and responsibility regarding consumer behaviors and the impact of plastic on marine life.

4. Would you recommend this book? Why or why not? I would definitely recommend this article to anyone interested in environmental issues, marine biology, or conservation. The thorough analysis provided enhances readers' understanding of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and sheds light on the ongoing efforts to combat ocean pollution. Akpan’s writing is engaging and educational, making complex scientific data accessible to a broader audience. Moreover, the article serves as both a call to action and a source of hope, showcasing the potential for innovation in cleanup efforts. It encourages an awareness that is critical in today’s world, where awareness and proactive measures are essential in protecting our planet’s ecosystems.