Journey to the Center of the Gyre:The Scripps Environmental Accumulation

of Plastic Expedition(SEAPLEX)

Journey to the Center of the Gyre:The Scripps Environmental Accumulation

of Plastic Expedition(SEAPLEX)

Miriam Goldstein

Scripps Institution of Oceanography

March 6, 2009

Miriam Goldstein

Scripps Institution of Oceanography

March 6, 2009

Mission: Find & explore the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”

Mission: Find & explore the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”

Outline of TalkOutline of Talk

1. The North Pacific Gyre and why it’s (probably) filled with plastic

2. The SEAPLEX cruise

3. How YOU and your students can get involved!

1. The North Pacific Gyre and why it’s (probably) filled with plastic

2. The SEAPLEX cruise

3. How YOU and your students can get involved!

Wind-driven circulation:How the plastic gets to the middle of

the ocean

Wind-driven circulation:How the plastic gets to the middle of

the ocean

Trade winds and westerlies (jet stream) drive the oceanic gyres

Trade winds and westerlies (jet stream) drive the oceanic gyres

Stuff accumulates in the calm center of the North Pacific Gyre

Stuff accumulates in the calm center of the North Pacific Gyre

And since plastic doesn’t biodegrade…And since plastic doesn’t biodegrade…

The SEAPLEX Cruise Track August 5-17, 2009

The SEAPLEX Cruise Track August 5-17, 2009

SEAPLEX Science: Where is the plastic?SEAPLEX Science: Where is the plastic?

NOAA

The mighty plankton towThe mighty plankton tow

SEAPLEX Science: Ecosystem EffectsSEAPLEX Science: Ecosystem Effects

• Effect on zooplankton

• Transport of invasive species

• Ingestion by midwater fishes

• Transport of persistant organic pollutants (DDT, PCBs)

• Alteration of bacterial community

• Transport to the sea floor (4000 meters down!)

• Effect on zooplankton

• Transport of invasive species

• Ingestion by midwater fishes

• Transport of persistant organic pollutants (DDT, PCBs)

• Alteration of bacterial community

• Transport to the sea floor (4000 meters down!)

SEAPLEX wants YOU!SEAPLEX wants YOU!

• Teacher excited about new media

• Coordinate online outreach and development of educational materials– Blog– Twitter– Photos– Videos– Google Earth tour– Lesson plans that fulfill curricular requirements– ???

• Teacher excited about new media

• Coordinate online outreach and development of educational materials– Blog– Twitter– Photos– Videos– Google Earth tour– Lesson plans that fulfill curricular requirements– ???

SEAPLEX in the classroomSEAPLEX in the classroom

• One of the first expeditions to fully incorporate new media

• But …takes place August 5-17

• Suggestions?

• One of the first expeditions to fully incorporate new media

• But …takes place August 5-17

• Suggestions?

DemonstrationsDemonstrations

• Misleading “trash gyre” info on internet – Greenpeace animation– Purported photo

• Example of a cruise blog• Example of cruise Twitter• Example of Google Earth tour

• Misleading “trash gyre” info on internet – Greenpeace animation– Purported photo

• Example of a cruise blog• Example of cruise Twitter• Example of Google Earth tour