Plastic Sea Change
Gyres are areas of low flow in open ocean created at the center of encircling major currents. Much like a whirlpool, ocean gyres attract materials toward their centers, leading to high quantities of plastic debris accumulating in the 5 gyres of the world. Through interdisciplinary research our team is characterizing the physical and ecological conditions of the most infamously polluted gyre in the world - the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG), commonly known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch - with the intention of highlighting global change in these unique gyre ecosystems. Find out more about our projects below.
Tracking Plastic Debris
Through the efforts of the FloatEco team, non-profit partners, and sailors, we GPS track large plastic marine debris, namely derelict fishing gear, in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG). From this research, FloatEco scientists gain a better understanding of how plastics move in the open ocean and mimic habitat for marine species. Ocean Voyages Institute also uses this technology to more efficiently locate debris during cleanup missions. Visit Ocean Voyages Institute to learn more about how large plastic debris is tagged, tracked, and removed from the Pacific Ocean.
Modeling Plastic Hotspots
In addition to tracking plastic debris, oceanographers from University of Hawaii, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory have developed oceanographic drifters and a mixed-layer float to study the movement of debris in the NPSG. The FloatEco oceanographers integrate oceanographic and weather data with plastics sampling to build predictive models of plastic accumulation in the NPSG. More precise estimation of hotspot size and position better informs the biogeographical implications of floating plastic debris and provides data for more efficient research and cleanup missions.
Invasive Species Rafting
Floating plastics can transport coastal species across oceans by ‘ocean rafting’ — a process by which floating plastics are carried out to sea from coasts on offshore ocean currents, taking attached or associated coastal marine seaweeds, animals, and microbes with them. These coastal hitchhikers can eventually be deposited hundreds of miles from their native ranges. Through marine debris surveys and plastic colonization studies at sea, FloatEco biologists are determining the prevalence of ocean rafting on plastics. You can find out more about the biology through the Marine Invasions Research Lab at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
Integrated Technology
A major strength of the interdisciplinary nature of FloatEco research is the ability to integrate oceanography, biology, and conservation. Through the collaborative efforts of our team, FloatEco develops technology, and expands the use profile of current state-of-the-art equipment, to more holistically assesses the physical and biological role of floating plastics in open ocean environments; and our efforts are ever-evolving and expanding.