From 10th to 25th June 2009 the Oceanographic Research Vessel Alguita, in partnership with Algalita Marine Research Foundation, will carry out the first part of their 2009 voyage to sample the surface waters of the “great Pacific garbage patch,” an area of central North Pacific Ocean where marine litter accumulates. The great Pacific garbage patch is located about 500 nautical miles off the Californian coast and extends across the northern Pacific, past Hawaii and almost as far as Japan. It is an area of the north Pacific, known as the north Pacific gyre, where prevailing swirling currents cause the accumulation of huge quantities of marine debris. The north Pacific gyre is known as “the largest landfill in the world, and it floats in the middle of the ocean.”
Follow Captain Moore, Jeff Ernst the first mate, and their crew and share their discoveries with the ship’s blog, a daily record of the progress of the voyage. Observe their progress as they approach the gyre and see how the great Pacific garbage patch has changed over the past decade. Check the nature of the plastic litter, plastic bags, and other rubbish they find and monitor any reported effects on wildlife.
Why not join this voyage of discovery with them?