If you haven’t already heard, a huge blob of garbage the size of Texas is cruising around the Pacific Ocean.  It floats along the North Pacific Grye, (a swirling vortex of winds and currents,) and it is best described by the following almost lyrical account:  “Around and around: bottles, plastic bags, fishnets, clothing, lighters, and myriad other man-made items, held until they disintegrate, make their way to distant seas, or merely bob among the waves before washing up on someone’s beach.”  

So how did this happen?  Over 14 billion pounds of trash go into the ocean each year.  The United State Coast Guard estimates that merchant ships dump 90% of the waste, while recreational boaters, the military, and cruise ships make up the rest of it.  (With a 1% touch of sewage thrown in.)   And in 1988, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted that this garbage swirl after studying ocean patterns and ocean waste.  Most of it is plastic, which will essentially whip around in the ocean until our blogs are being studied by future doctoral students who will wonder just exactly what text-terms like LMFAO means.  For now, take a look at what garbage the ocean is spewing back at us.  And prepare for WTF moments.

Satellite View of the Patch

Here’s what the patch looks like from space.  It’s almost pretty, right?  (Enjoy this feeling before you look below.)  Experts say trying to clean up this mess would bankrupt any country, but that the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Brita have teamed up to send an expedition to study it.

Photo Source: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/05/first-great-pacific-garbage-patch-clean-up-effor-to-begin-next-month.php

Underwater View

Here’s a look at the view underwater.  At least the water is still blue.

Photo Source: http://pathwaysofaltruism.com/?p=13 

Dead Garbage Patch Bird

This is the corpse of a bird that has swallowed all the plastic that the Pacific has to offer.  Gruesome and completely depressing.  If only Brita could install ocean water filters for these poor creatures….

Photo Source: http://www.green-sexy.com/pollution/ 

Plastic Turtle

This sea turtle looks like he’s trying to floss with this plastic bag. 

Photo Course:  http://bgviewsnetwork.com/green/m/the_great_pacific_garbage_patch.html 

Garbage Iceberg

Scientists have also noted the appearance of garbage “icebergs” that are cropping up all over the ocean.  Give it a few years, and it might take down a cruise ship like its icy forebears. 

Photo Source: http://hd2o.tv/flog/2009/the-great-pacific-garbage-patch/ 

Scuba View

You don’t see a lot of resorts offering scuba in such environments – too bad, we might get more attention to this topic if they did.

Photo Source: http://discovermagazine.com/2008/jul/10-the-worlds-largest-dump/article_view?b_start:int=1&-C 

Still not impressed?  (Or depressed enough?)

>> Check out "Volunteering in NYC, LA and SF: Lend A Helping Hand This Summer" for great green volunteering ideas!