Trash Island is an accumulation of debris, most of which is plastic, that gathers together due to oceanic currents. There are varying definitions and attitudes about the situation, but everyone seems to agree that there is an accumulation of some sort of plastic debris in the oceans, trapped by gyres, that is harmful to environment.
Gyres are kind of like vortexes in the ocean. They're formed when oceanic currents on all sides flow in one direction around the center and form something similar to a giant whirlpool as shown in the example below.
And there isn't just one Trash Island. There is a total of 5 major gyres (and several smaller ones) around the globe that each have their own Trash Island: the North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Indian oceans.
Gyres are kind of like vortexes in the ocean. They're formed when oceanic currents on all sides flow in one direction around the center and form something similar to a giant whirlpool as shown in the example below.
And there isn't just one Trash Island. There is a total of 5 major gyres (and several smaller ones) around the globe that each have their own Trash Island: the North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Indian oceans.
(NOAA, Oceanic Gyres)
(A short video that shows the basics of how Trash Island has been created, and the effects on sea life)
(An explanation of Trash Island and a realistic glimps into what it is)
There are many viewpoints on the topic. Though there is not enough trash to actually comprise a physical island, some people take it to the other extreme and claim that there actually isn't a problem. Though this guy is trying to be logical, there should be emphasis on the reality of the problem and educating the public properly.
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