'Great Garbage Patch' in the Pacific Ocean not so great claim scientists

[JohnSmith2007 353]

'Great Garbage Patch' in the Pacific Ocean not so great claim scientists

By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent 7:00AM GMT 06 Jan 2011

Claims that the "Great Garbage Patch" between California and Japan is twice the size of Texas is "grossly exaggerated" said the research which reckons it is more like one per cent the size.

Further reports that the oceans are filled with more plastic than plankton, and that the patch has been growing tenfold each decade since the 1950s are equally misleading, the new research claimed.

In reality it often cannot even be seen from the deck of a passing boat, said the latest analysts from the Oregon State University professor of oceanography Angelicque White.

The scientist took part in a recent marine expedition to examine the mass of plastic that is floating in the ocean and found there was a problem.

But genuine scientific concerns are undermined by scare tactics from those proclaiming the trash patch is so big that there is more plastic than plankton in the Pacific.

Prof White said: "There is no doubt that the amount of plastic in the world's oceans is troubling, but this kind of exaggeration undermines the credibility of scientists.

"We have data that allow us to make reasonable estimates. We don't need the hyperbole.

"Given the observed concentration of plastic in the North Pacific, it is simply inaccurate to state that plastic outweighs plankton, or that we have observed an exponential increase in plastic."

One popular claim is that the size of the patch is twice that of the state of Texas – half a million square miles or the equivalent of 20 times the size of England.

But while the plastic stretches across the surface, its mass compared to the amount of water means it only takes up a tiny fraction of its proclaimed area, said Prof White.

"The amount of plastic out there isn't trivial," she said.

"But the patch ... is a small fraction of the state of Texas, not twice the size."

Prof White said plastic can be toxic to some marine life forms but it can absorb other toxins – there is evidence that some organisms are breeding on tiny plastic debris.

However, it is also a danger to seabirds and fish and she said: "Plastic clearly does not belong in the ocean."

Getting rid of it is too expensive and could damage the fragile ecology under the ocean, she said. Preventing more from entering the water should now be the main focus instead.

She added: "If there is a takeaway message, it's that we should consider it good news that the 'garbage patch' doesn't seem to be as bad as advertised.

"Since it would be prohibitively costly to remove the plastic, we need to focus our efforts on preventing more trash from fouling our oceans in the first place."

Recent research by scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found that the amount of plastic, at least in the Atlantic Ocean, hasn't increased since the mid-1980s – despite greater production and consumption of materials made from plastic, she pointed out.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8241265/Great-Garbage-Patch-in-the-Pacific-Ocean-not-so-great-claim-scientists.html

[Danno 1,228]

Every day we find another example of modern science going the way of televangelism.

[alienlovechild 75]

Prof White said: "There is no doubt that the amount of plastic in the world's oceans is troubling, but this kind of exaggeration undermines the credibility of scientists.

"We have data that allow us to make reasonable estimates. We don't need the hyperbole.

Why that can't be. Scientists don't have political agendas and wouldn't exaggerate problems to bring attention to a problem.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Ecology nuts were a great idea for the Socialist party to bring into the fold.

[james&olya 1,121]

Ecology nuts were a great idea for the Socialist party to bring into the fold.

Yeah, what kind of ridiculous nut would be concerned over dumping trash by the tons into our oceans! Seems like just the sort of thing we should do more of. Just goes to show everybody that them there scientists should never be listened to. What have they ever done for anybody anyway? All just a bunch of commie socialists! Thank you Mr Smith for bringing this to our attention. This was really helpful!

[Danno 1,228]

Yeah, what kind of ridiculous nut would be concerned over dumping trash by the tons into our oceans! Seems like just the sort of thing we should do more of. Just goes to show everybody that them there scientists should never be listened to. What have they ever done for anybody anyway? All just a bunch of commie socialists! Thank you Mr Smith for bringing this to our attention. This was really helpful!

And just like with the Televangelists....

The flock protects the wayward Minister.

Nothing new here.

[alienlovechild 75]

Yeah, what kind of ridiculous nut would be concerned over dumping trash by the tons into our oceans! Seems like just the sort of thing we should do more of.

That's not what the article said but feel free to make up your own version.

We should hold science and scientists to a higher standard to get objective answers to problems.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Thank God that the pollution isn't bad or harmful at all. I'm sure it is as harmless as the Gulf oil spill. I can't understand why there is so much concern about the environment. The earth will still be here long after man is gone. We're nothing more than a minor irritant on it's surface, much like that pesky fly or mosquito buzzing around your head.

[luckytxn 2,264]

That's not what the article said but feel free to make up your own version.

We should hold science and scientists to a higher standard to get objective answers to problems.

No let them keep making up ####### as they go along and make people never believe anything even if it has merit. Anyone or party that has them as a part of the flock is tainted as well. Right now no matter what these nut jobs say has to be tossed away as it more than likely a falsehood.

[Danno 1,228]

Earth will survived.

[TigerTeddyBear 26]

Same as global warming. Same arguments. Same people backing their beliefs. A garbage patch the fraction of the size of THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS is something to celebrate? What fraction of 268,601 square miles is acceptable?

Edited January 7, 2011 by TigerTeddyBear

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Same as global warming. Same arguments. Same people backing their beliefs. A garbage patch the fraction of the size of THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS is something to celebrate? What fraction of 268,601 square miles is acceptable?

As long as it's the size of Dallas or smaller, it's ok.

[Danno 1,228]

Same as global warming. Same arguments. Same people backing their beliefs. A garbage patch the fraction of the size of THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS is something to celebrate? What fraction of 268,601 square miles is acceptable?

You do get the fact that there was gross fraud involved?

Trash is not the subject here, gross fraud is.

But go ahead and play like anyone who brings it up must pour motor oil down their storm drain.

[Danno 1,228]

Anyway, where is Steve at, he posted this original story sometime back IIRC.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

environmental scientists.