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06/22/201206/22/2012
MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts speaks to Aiel Fukes, Program and Communications Director for SeaOrbiter about the SeaOrbiter itself and how project leaders hope to explore oceans.
Oceans
The Fukushima Nuclear Catastrophe’s Effects On The Pacific Ocean
– The Fukushima Nuclear Catastrophe’s Effects on the Pacific Ocean (Natural Society, May 22, 2012):
Just prior to the Supermoon of March 18th, 2011, the world witnessed a natural and man-made disaster of epic proportions. What transpired off the coast of Honshu Island, Japan on March 11 has forever altered the planet and irremediably affected the global environment. Whereas the earthquake and tsunami proved to be truly apocalyptic events for the people of Japan, the ongoing nuclear disaster at Fukushima is proving to be cataclysmic for the entire world.
Read moreThe Fukushima Nuclear Catastrophe’s Effects On The Pacific Ocean
Fukushima On Steroids: ‘Japan Is In The Process Of Contaminating The Entire Pacific Ocean’
From the article:
At Chernobyl no spent-fuel pools were destroyed.
– Fukushima on Steroids (Dr. Mark Sircus, April 30, 2012):
I wish everything I am reporting on were not true, or at least were less true than it appears. It does seem that Japan is in the process of contaminating the entire Pacific Ocean via continued uncontrolled releases of radioactivity at Fukushima. After low-balling initial estimates of radiation releases, the Japanese authorities now acknowledge that substantial amounts of radioactive material leaked from the crippled Fukushima Dai-Ichi reactors.[1]
The nuclear disaster in Japan has released radioactive isotopes that have poisoned the country’s soil, food, and water. The fallout is being rapidly taken up by living things and passed up the food chain with airborne radioactive isotopes reaching around the world but especially in the northern hemisphere where most of the radioactive particles will settle.
Most Americans have no idea what is happening. But within days of the accident at Fukushima radioactive contaminants were detected at monitoring stations in the Pacific Coast states. Nearly 1% of the “hot” sulfur released from the plant is estimated to have traversed the Pacific to reach southern California beaches.[2]
Read moreFukushima On Steroids: ‘Japan Is In The Process Of Contaminating The Entire Pacific Ocean’
Massive Ocean Radiation Plume Will Hit West Coast (RT – Video)
See also:
– Japan Government: ‘Tsunami Debris May Have Already Reached North America, Back in February …’
YouTube Added: 06.04.2012
Description:
Kevin Kamps, Beyond Nuclear, joins Thom Hartmann. California beware! A radioactive wave is headed toward the West Coast of the United States courtesy of the Fukushima nuclear disaster? So with nuclear power still wreaking havoc on the environment – why are the Japanese about to flip on more of their nuclear reactors?
More info:
– Radioactive Japan: Skim Milk Powder At 23 Bq/Kg Of Radioactive Cesium
– MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow: Fukushima Nuclear Plant ‘Beyond Human Capability’ (Video)
– Kashiwa, Chiba: Tap Water At 186 Bq/Kg
– Robot Destroyed Within 2 Hours In Fukushima Reactor No. 2
– Katsushika,Tokyo: 8 MicroSieverts/Hour Detected (Video)
– Radioactive Japan: Kashiwa Soil At 2567 Bq/Kg
– Radioactive Shiitake Mushrooms At 1400 Bq/Kg Served In KINDERGARTEN
Read moreMassive Ocean Radiation Plume Will Hit West Coast (RT – Video)
Japan Government Bans Sale Of Foreign Radiation Dosemeters
Looks like Japan is turning into one big ‘RADIATION CAMP’.
?- “Foreign dosemeters are banned to sell” (Fukushima Diary, Mar 19, 2012):
A Japanese citizen tweeted a shop said they are no longer allowed to sell foreign dosemeters.
????RT @yasaitabeteru???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
— kazukazu721 (@kazukazu721) March 19, 2012
<Translate>
My geiger counter got out of order, went to the shop to repair. They said, they can no longer sell foreign geiger counters from the order of Japanese government. Government says, foreign geiger counters are not accurate, may cause panic. I wonder what they will do for the geiger counters that have already been bought by normal people. They also said it was ordered backstage. I’m scared of Japan, feel like I’m being killed quietly.
Read moreJapan Government Bans Sale Of Foreign Radiation Dosemeters
Fukushima Radioactive Ocean Impact Map (Video – March 2012 Update)
– Remember Fukushima: Presenting The Radioactive Seawater Impact Map (ZeroHedge, Mar 16, 2012):
A few days after the one year anniversary of the Fukushima disaster, nobody talks about it anymore. After all it’s “fixed”, and if it isn’t, the Fed will fix it. Remember in the New Normal nothing bad is allowed the happen. So for those who have forgotten, here is a reminder.
From ASR, a global coastal and marine consulting firm, The Radioactive Seawater Impact Map
We use a Lagrangian particles dispersal method to track where free floating material (fish larvae, algae, phytoplankton, zooplankton…) present in the sea water near the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station plant could have gone since the earthquake on March 11th. THIS IS NOT A REPRESENTATION OF THE RADIOACTIVE PLUME CONCENTRATION. Since we do not know exactly how much contaminated water and at what concentration was released into the ocean, it is impossible to estimate the extent and dilution of the plume. However, field monitoring by TEPCO showed concentration of radioactive Iodine and Cesium higher than the legal limit during the next two months following the event (with a peak at more than 100 Bq/cm3 early April 2011 for I-131 as shown by the following picture).
Assuming that a part of the passive biomass could have been contaminated in the area, we are trying to track where the radionuclides are spreading as it will eventually climb up the food chain. The computer simulation presented here is obtained by continuously releasing particles at the site during the 2 months folllowing the earthquake and then by tracing the path of these particles. The dispersal model is ASR’s Pol3DD. The model is forced by hydrodynamic data from the HYCOM/NCODA system which provides on a weekly basis, daily oceanic current in the world ocean. The resolution in this part of the Pacific Ocean is around 8km x 8km cells. We are treating only the sea surface currents. The dispersal model keeps a trace of their visits in the model cells. The results here are expressed in number of visit per surface area of material which has been in contact at least once with the highly concentrated radioactive water.
Very High Levels Of Radiation Detected In Osaka Bay Soil (More Than 550 Km Away From Fukushima Meltdowns)
Google translation:
– Cesium 9,686 Bq / kg soil in Osaka Bay seabed emergency essentials – ? ? 1 / 14, strontium-90 detected! (Jan. 14, 2012):
Cesium 9,686 Bq / kg soil in Osaka Bay seabed emergency essentials – ? ? 1 / 14, strontium-90 detected! –
Detected 9,686 Bq / kg in radionuclide analysis – MAX!1 / Bay / Osaka grab bottom sampler, December 29
Kansai International Airport near the seabed soilCesium 134 7,271 Bq / Kg
Cesium-137 705Bq/Kg
Strontium 90 28Bq/Kg
South Korea: Radioactive Seaweed At 0.76 MicroSieverts/Hour From East Coast
2012 Jan 2nd, South Korea, Seaweed radioactivity test (part 1) from joytek on Vimeo.
– Breaking News: 0.76 microSv/h from Seaweed from Korean east coast (Fukushima Diary, Jan. 3, 2012):
On 1/2/2012, they measured 0.76 microSv/h from seaweed, which is from the east coast of Korea.(Unopened)
The background was 0.227 microSv/h. It picked up around by 0.53 microSv/h immediate on the package.
This suggests the sea contamination has spread to not only Pacific ocean but also the Korean / Japanese sea.
Related article http://fukushima-diary.com/2011/12/tsunami-boat-found-in-korean-japanese-sea/
Dr. Helen Caldicott Interviews Arnie Gundersen: A Fresh Report On Fukushima (Audio): Melted Core To Hit Groundwater, Will Leak Out Anyway, Groundwater Already Contaminated, Massive Contamination Of The Ocean
MP3: Listen Now (Download the show by right-clicking the link.)
– Arnold Gundersen with A Fresh Report on Fukushima (Dec. 23, 2011):
This week, Dr. Caldicott and Arnold Gundersen, a nuclear energy consultant with Fairewinds Associates, have another look at how the Fukushima disaster is affecting Japan, and how the U.S. nuclear industry continues its plans to build new plants in America. As background for today’s program, read the recent articles Mothers Rise Against Nuclear Power in Japan, Nuclear Russian Roulette in California:
Dr. Helen Caldicott and Dan Hirsch Warn How Accident at San Onofre Would Trap Eight Million People, and Fukushima Shutdown Still At Least 40 Years Away. Be sure to visit Gundersen’s website for many articles, reports, videos and
other resources about Fukushima and the hazards of nuclear power. Watch Gundersen’s October presentation on YouTube (9 minutes), Nuclear Oversight Lacking WORLDWIDE. And fully inform yourselves about nuclear energy with Dr. Caldicott’s books Nuclear Power is Not the Answer and Nuclear Madness: What You Can Do.
More info:
Asahi Newspaper Estimate Based On TEPCO’s Press Release: 462 Trillion Bequerels Of Radioactive Strontium Leaked Into The Ocean
– 462 trillion Bq of Strontium leaked to the ocean (Fukushima Diary, Dec. 20, 2011):
This is an estimation of Asahi newspaper so it is not trustworthy enough.
However, it would be some kind milestone to judge something.
One of the propaganda mass media – Asahi newspaper – yet tried to estimate the total amount of leakage of strontium.
They are based on the Tepco’s press release. They assumed it only leaked from reactor 2 in April and from reactor 3 in May for some reason. Also, they ignored the strontium from the fall-out as well.
However, it turned out to be as bad as the worst historical sea contamination of Sellafield in 1970?s, which was about 500 trillion Bq. Probably this “500 trillion Bq of leakage” is a false data as well.
Even Asahi newspaper warns about the biological concentration in the sea. They requires radiation measuring of the sea to be conducted as soon as possible.
(Source)
First Debris From Japan Reaches US, Canada: 100 Million Tons Of Debris Expected – Police Advised To Have Sensitive Geiger Counters
Oceanographer Jim Ingraham answers questions about the islands of debris from the March 11 Japan tsunami that are slowly floating toward the Pacific Northwest. Behind him is a float, found east of Neah Bay, that is believed to be the first identified piece of wreckage to arrive via ocean currents. — Photo by Arwyn Rice/Peninsula Daily News
– First debris from Japanese earthquake/tsunami reaches Olympic Peninsula (Olympic Peninsula Daily News, Dec. 14. 2011):
PORT ANGELES — The first piece of debris that could be identified as washing up on the West Coast from the March 11 tsunami in Japan — a large black float — was found on a Neah Bay beach two weeks ago, Seattle oceanographers Curtis Ebbesmeyer and Jim Ingraham said Tuesday night.
Since then, the two researchers, known as DriftBusters Inc. — who have used flotsam to track wind and water currents in the Pacific since 1970 — have learned that the black, 55-gallon drum-sized floats also have been found on Vancouver Island.
Ebbesmeyer and Ingraham spoke to more than 100 people at Peninsula College and brought the float with them, along with examples of other items that may be showing up on beaches in the next year.
Tons of debris washed out to sea when a tsunami struck northern Japan after a massive magnitude-9.0 earthquake March 11.
About a quarter of the 100 million tons of debris from Japan is expected to make landfall on beaches from southern Alaska to California, possibly in volumes large enough to clog ports, Ebbesmeyer said.
US And Japanese Scientists Detected Cesium-137 At 50 Million Times Normal Levels In Ocean
– Scientists Assess Radioactivity in the Ocean from Japan Nuclear Power Facility (NSF, Dec. 9, 2011):
With current news of additional radioactive leaks from the Fukushima nuclear power plants, the impact on the ocean of releases of radioactivity from the plants remains unclear.
But a new study by U.S. and Japanese researchers analyzes the levels of radioactivity discharged in the first four months after the accident.
Read moreUS And Japanese Scientists Detected Cesium-137 At 50 Million Times Normal Levels In Ocean
The Impact Of The Fukushima Radiation On The Ocean – Arnie Gundersen: If You Are On The West Coast And The Cascades You Need To Demand Your Government To Check For Fukushima Fallout (Video)
– The Impact of the Fukushima Radiation on the Ocean (EcoReview, Dec. 7, 2011):
Arnie Gundersen at 53:00 into the video:
“I think if you are on the west coast and the Cascades you need to demand more of your (Oregon, Washington State and California) local officials, or of the federal government, to look into what’s in the fish.
Not just the saltwater fish, but also what’s rained out on the land and is now in the local rivers.”
Fukushima Nuclear Plant Leaks Large Quantities Of Highly Radioactive Water
See also:
– Japanese Scientists Call For Dumping Radioactive Soil Into Sea
Imagine my total absence of shock.
– Fukushima plant leaks radioactive water (Guardian, Dec. 5, 2011):
Radioactive water might have found its way into the Pacific ocean and experts believe it could contain strontium
Large quantities of highly radioactive water have leaked through a crack in the wall of a treatment facility at the Fukushima power plant, and some may have founds its way into the sea, the plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power [Tepco], said.
The firm said as much as 45 tonnes of water had leaked through the concrete wall of a building being used to purify contaminated water that is then used to cool molten fuel in the plant’s three damaged reactors.
The firm has piled up sandbags to prevent further leaks but fears some water may have already found its way into a gutter that connects to the Pacific ocean about 600 metres away.
Experts believe the water could contain high levels of strontium-90, a beta-emitting radioactive substance that, if ingested, can cause bone cancer.
Read moreFukushima Nuclear Plant Leaks Large Quantities Of Highly Radioactive Water
Japanese Scientists Call For Dumping Radioactive Soil Into Sea
– Scientists call for dumping radioactive soil into sea (Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 05, 2011):
Scientists have proposed dumping soil contaminated by radiation from the Fukushima nuclear disaster into the deep sea, an idea certain to meet opposition both at home and abroad.
A group led by Isao Tanihata, a professor at Osaka University’s Research Center for Nuclear Physics, and Kozi Nakai, a former professor at the Tokyo University of Science, said the best way to get rid of the radioactive soil is to place it in noncorrosive, pressure-tight vessels and dumping them at least 2,000 meters deep near Japan.
“The sea, away from all residents, would pose no problem,” Tanihata told about 30 researchers at a study meeting at Osaka University on Dec. 3.
Read moreJapanese Scientists Call For Dumping Radioactive Soil Into Sea
Cesium-137 Deposition Simulation Shows Massive Ocean Contamination
– Cesium-137 Deposition Simulation Shows Extensive Ocean Contamination Even in Japan Sea (EX-SKF. Nov. 19, 2011):
I wrote on Monday November 14 about the paper by the international team of scientists on cesium-137 deposition simulation after the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident, from March 20 to April 19.
In the English paper that I linked, there was a map of cesium-137 deposition simulation in much wider area of Japan, which I showed in the post.
But then, in the press release by Nagoya University (one of the scientists is from this university), I realized I should have linked the different map of cesium-137 deposition simulation on land and on the ocean. A whole lot of radioactive materials may have fallen on the ocean, the Pacific Ocean AND the Japan Sea. (Remember, this is a simulation map, not the actual measurement.)
Looking at the map, I don’t think I want to eat anything from the Pacific Ocean. Or the Japan Sea. Abalone fishing just started in Iwate Prefecture.
By the way, the paper and the researchers were criticized heavily on Twitter a couple of days ago (it still continues) from other researchers in Japan. Their beef was that the researchers of the paper withheld this information from the public when it could have made the difference in determining the government policy or in alerting more people on the possibility of much wider radiation contamination. Instead, the researchers waited for the peer review in the very prestigious scientific venue (the National Academy of Sciences of the United States) to be finished and the paper published. Some say the researchers had the temerity to say in their Nagoya University press release on November 15, “We request that the information in the paper not be used to spread a new set of “baseless rumors” [on the contamination].”
Read moreCesium-137 Deposition Simulation Shows Massive Ocean Contamination
Japan (Radioactive) Tsunami Debris Could Reach B.C. In Days: Oceanographer
– Japan tsunami debris could reach B.C. in days: oceanographer (National post, Nov. 10, 2011):
VICTORIA — The largest items swept out to sea following the Japanese tsunami in March could arrive on the B.C. coastline within days, oceanographer Curt Ebbesmeyer predicted on Wednesday.
The main part of the 20-million-tonne debris field, equivalent in size to the state of California, isn’t expected until about 2014, but houses, fishboats and even small freighters could already be close to Canadian shores, Mr. Ebbesmeyer said.
Read moreJapan (Radioactive) Tsunami Debris Could Reach B.C. In Days: Oceanographer
France’s IRSN Estimate Of Radioactive Cesium-137 Leaked Into The Pacific Ocean: 27,100 Terabequerels = 20 Times TEPCO’s Estimate!
– France’s IRSN New Estimate on Amount of Cesium-137 into the Pacific Ocean: 27,100 Terabequerels, or 20 Times TEPCO’s Estimate (EX-SKF, October 27, 2011):
From Jiji Tsushin (10/28/2011):
? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
On October 27, the Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN, Institut de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire) of France announced its research report in which the researchers estimated the total amount of radioactive cesium-137 leaked from Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean was 27,100 terrabecquerels from March 21 to mid July. The IRSN estimate is 20 times as much as the estimate announced in June by TEPCO.
Expect A Cold Winter: NOAA Sea Surface Temperatures Map
Click on image to enlarge.
Source: NOAA
Look at those places where the sea surface temperatures are below normal …
See also:
– Britain Faces Mini Ice Age That Could Last For Decades
– Vancouver, Western Canada Facing Record Cold Temperatures This Winter
… and expect a cold winter in the Pacific Northwest and in the UK.
Radioactive Whales Caught Far From Fukushima
– Radioactive cesium detected from 2 whales+ (AP, June 14, 2011):
KUSHIRO, Japan, June 14 (AP) – (Kyodo)—Radioactive cesium was detected from two minke whales caught off the coast of Kushiro, Hokkaido, in Japan’s so-called research whaling, a whalers’ association said Tuesday.
While the level of the radioactive material remained below the temporarily set upper limit, the association officials said during a press conference in Kushiro that the contamination must have been caused by the continuing nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant and that they will closely monitor future developments.
During the research whaling that started in late April, 17 whales were caught, and researchers examined six of them. Of the six, two were found tainted with 31 becquerels and 24.3 becquerels of cesium per kilogram of whale meat, they said.
The upper limit tentatively stands at 500 becquerels per kilogram.
Vast Field Of Debris From Japan Earthquake And Tsunami Floating Towards US West Coast
“The U.S. Navy said they had never seen anything like it.” ???:
– Scientists Map North Atlantic Garbage Patch For The First Time
– Drowning in plastic: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is twice the size of France
– The Pacific Ocean Is Now “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch”
Adrift: A whole house bobs in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan. An enormous field of debris was swept out to sea following the earthquake and tsunami
Strong force: The graphic shows the currents in the Pacific Ocean that will push the debris around from Japan to the U.S. West Coast and then back again
Vast: An aerial view of the debris shows massive amounts of timber, tyres and parts of houses. The U.S. Navy said they had never seen anything like it and warn it now poses a threat to shipping traffic
Cars, whole houses and even severed feet in shoes: The vast field of debris from Japan earthquake and tsunami that’s floating towards U.S. West Coast
A vast field of debris, swept out to sea following the Japan earthquake and tsunami, is floating towards the U.S. West Coast, it has emerged.
More than 200,000 buildings were washed out by the enormous waves that followed the 9.0 quake on March 11.
There have been reports of cars, tractor-trailers, capsized ships and even whole houses bobbing around in open water.
Read moreVast Field Of Debris From Japan Earthquake And Tsunami Floating Towards US West Coast
Gulf of Mexico Oil Apocalypse Creates Underwater Nightmare
On Good Morning America, correspondent Sam Champion and Philippe Cousteau Jr. explore the toxic plumes of dispersed oil floating beneath the waves in the Gulf of Mexico.
Added: 25. May 2010
More:
– Gulf of Mexico clean-up boats recalled after crews suffer health problems
– SPECIAL REPORT: Civil fine in Gulf spill could be $4,300 a barrel
– Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Health Hazards
– Fishermen get severly ill from clean-up work in Gulf
– NASA Images Show Oil Entering Loop Current
– New NASA Image of Gulf Oil Moving Towards Atlantic Ocean
– Worry That Gulf Oil Spreading Into Major Ocean Current
– AP IMPACT: Fed’l Inspections on Rig Not as Claimed:
The federal agency responsible for ensuring that an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico was operating safely before it exploded last month fell well short of its own policy that inspections be done at least once per month, an Associated Press investigation shows.
Since January 2005, the federal Minerals Management Service conducted at least 16 fewer inspections aboard the Deepwater Horizon than it should have under the policy, a dramatic fall from the frequency of prior years, according to the agency’s records.
Scientists studying video of the gushing oil well have tentatively calculated that it could be flowing at a rate of 25,000 to 80,000 barrels of oil a day. The latter figure would be 3.4 million gallons a day.
– Beyond Stupid: BP CEO Tony Hayward:
“The Gulf of Mexico is a very big ocean. The amount of volume of oil and dispersant we are putting into it is tiny in relation to the total water volume.”
– US Oil Spill: Scientists and Fishermen Alarmed Over Chemical Dispersants:
Approximately 325,000 gallons of dispersant have been deployed so far in BP’s effort to break up the spreading oil slick before it hits the fragile Gulf coast, and over 500,000 gallons more are available.
– Rig firm makes $270m profit from Gulf of Mexico oil spill
– US not accepting foreign help on oil spill
– Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: New NOAA Projection Map; BP’s High-Stakes Mission; And More News
– Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: The Halliburton Connection:
The company acknowledged Friday that it had completed the final cementing of the oil well and pipe just 20 hours before the blowout last week.
Drowning in plastic: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is twice the size of France
There are now 46,000 pieces of plastic per square kilometre of the world’s oceans, killing a million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals each year. Worse still, there seems to be nothing we can do to clean it up. So how do we turn the tide?
A shark carcase on Kamilo Beach, Hawaii, where plastic particles outnumber sand grains until you dig down about a foot Photo: ALGALITA MARINE RESEARCH FOUNDATION A jar of Pacific water held by the environmentalist Charles Moore hints at the amount of plastic swirling just below the ocean’s surface Photo: MATT CRAMER/AMRF
Way out in the Pacific Ocean, in an area once known as the doldrums, an enormous, accidental monument to modern society has formed. Invisible to satellites, poorly understood by scientists and perhaps twice the size of France, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is not a solid mass, as is sometimes imagined, but a kind of marine soup whose main ingredient is floating plastic debris.
It was discovered in 1997 by a Californian sailor, surfer, volunteer environmentalist and early-retired furniture restorer named Charles Moore, who was heading home with his crew from a sailing race in Hawaii, at the helm of a 50ft catamaran that he had built himself.
For the hell of it, he decided to turn on the engine and take a shortcut across the edge of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a region that seafarers have long avoided. It is a perennial high pressure zone, an immense slowly spiralling vortex of warm equatorial air that pulls in winds and turns them gently until they expire. Several major sea currents also converge in the gyre and bring with them most of the flotsam from the Pacific coasts of Southeast Asia, North America, Canada and Mexico. Fifty years ago nearly all that flotsam was biodegradable. These days it is 90 per cent plastic.
‘It took us a week to get across and there was always some plastic thing bobbing by,’ says Moore, who speaks in a jaded, sardonic drawl that occasionally flares up into heartfelt oratory. ‘Bottle caps, toothbrushes, styrofoam cups, detergent bottles, pieces of polystyrene packaging and plastic bags. Half of it was just little chips that we couldn’t identify. It wasn’t a revelation so much as a gradual sinking feeling that something was terribly wrong here. Two years later I went back with a fine-mesh net, and that was the real mind-boggling discovery.’
Read moreDrowning in plastic: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is twice the size of France
The Pacific Ocean Is Now “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch”
Most people do not realize that our reckless polluting has turned the Pacific Ocean into “the Great Pacific Garbage Patch” which is a “plastic soup” of trash, plastic, garbage and human waste an area about twice the size of the continental United States that stretches from Hawaii to Japan.
We are literally destroying the Pacific Ocean and the situation is getting rapidly worse every single hour of every single day.
Someday historians will look back on our time and will refer to us as “those crazy Plastic People”.
Related article: Garbage soup: secrets spewed up by the trash vortex
We take things like plastic and nylon and polyester for granted today.
But look at what we have done.
This “garbage vortex” occupies a large and relatively stationary region in the north Pacific Ocean and it is filled with millions of pounds of our trash, most of it plastic.
It is the largest landfill in the world, and it floats in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
It is estimated that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch contains over 100 million tons of debris.
One of the most frightening things about all of this is that plastic does not biodegrade. That means that it just sits there and all of the new garbage that comes along daily just adds to the problem.
Read moreThe Pacific Ocean Is Now “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch”