Homework answers / question archive / Discussion Forum 9 - Great Pacific Garbage Patch As you learned from this week's chapter reading and video episodes, the North Pacific Gyre is a system of surface currents that flow clockwise in the North Pacific Ocean

Discussion Forum 9 - Great Pacific Garbage Patch As you learned from this week's chapter reading and video episodes, the North Pacific Gyre is a system of surface currents that flow clockwise in the North Pacific Ocean

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Discussion Forum 9 - Great Pacific Garbage Patch

As you learned from this week's chapter reading and video episodes, the North Pacific Gyre is a system of surface currents that flow clockwise in the North Pacific Ocean.  The four main currents that make up the gyre are the California Current, North Equatorial Current, Kuroshio Current, and the North Pacific Current. 

Because of the spinning motion of this gyre, marine debris tends to collect toward the center creating what is called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP).  This collection of marine debris is not necessarily an island of trash, but is rather a diffuse collection of floating debris that is spread out over many miles.  Much of the debris is plastic, which is broken down by the sun into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics.  These microplastics, along with plastic bags, Styrofoam, abandoned fishing nets, among other things, are harmful to marine life, and many people have proposed various ways to try to clean up the Garbage Patch.   

Directions for your post: Do some research on the Great Pacific Garbage, and ways that people have proposed to clean it up. Then post your discussion following these criteria: 

1. Explain which aspect of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, in your opinion, causes the most environmental harm and why you feel that way. 
2. Answer the question: Which proposed method for cleaning up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, in your opinion, is best and why do you feel that way?  Remember...you are giving your informed opinion here, not someone else's. 
3. Reply to two classmates respectfully stating why you agree or disagree with them. 
4. Your primary post should be a minimum of 200 words and your replies to classmates should be a minimum of 100 words each.
5. As always, you must cite your sources, but DO NOT include quoted passages.  Your 200-word post must be entirely your writing, opinion, and thoughts  based on what you learned from your research.