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What We Know about the Garbage Patches?
Main inGredient = Plastic debris
Why such a common ingredient? likely because of the abundance of plastics and the fact that some common types of plastic float. do plastics degrade in the ocean? in general, yes*; however there are many things to note. a few points to consider (singh and sharma, 2008):
• There are MANY types of plastic, and thus many different chemical compositions
• Degradation rates depend on chemical composition, molecular weight, additives, environmental conditions, etc.
Based on research to date, most commonly used plastics do not ever fully “go away,”** but rather break down into smaller and smaller pieces (a. andrady, pers. comm.).Also keep in mind that many of the bio-based and truly biodegradable plastics break down in a compost pile or landfill, but not necessarily in the ocean. for more information & details please visit www.Marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/plastic.html
-OCEAN
Session 9: Social Sciences: Roles of Rivers
Discussion & comprehend
•Just 10 rivers – eight of them in Asia – may be responsible for dumping almost four million tonnes of plastic into the seas every year.
•Rivers contribute between 410,000 and 4 million tonnes a year to oceanic plastic debris, with 88 to 95% coming from only 10.
Stemming the Plastic
Tide: 10 Rivers
Contribute Most of the Plastic in the Oceans
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/activity/marine-debris-a-legacy-of-litter/#noaa-marine-debris-facts
Where does the marine debris come from?
- List sources of land-based and ocean/waterway-based marine debris
- Emphasize the fact that the sources and impacts of marine debris are highly varied and involve all people, no matter where they live.
Can India clean up its holiest river?
Ridding the Ganges of thousands of tons of plastic trash is a complex puzzle. India is starting to put the pieces together.
