L. Lebreton, B. Slat, F. Ferrari, B. Sainte-Rose, J. Aitken, R. Marthouse, S. Hajbane, S. Cunsolo, A. Schwarz, A. Levivier, K. Noble, P. Debeljak, H. Maral, R. Schoeneich-Argent, R. Brambini & J. Reisser

Evidence that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is rapidly accumulating plastic

Scientific Reportsvolume 8, Article number: 4666 (2018)
doi:10.1038/s41598-018-22939-w

Abstract
Ocean plastic can persist in sea surface waters, eventually accumulating
in remote areas of the world’s oceans. Here we characterise and quantify
a major ocean plastic accumulation zone formed in subtropical waters
between California and Hawaii: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP).
Our model, calibrated with data from multi-vessel and aircraft surveys,
predicted at least 79 (45–129) thousand tonnes of ocean plastic are
floating inside an area of 1.6 million km2; a figure four to sixteen
times higher than previously reported. We explain this difference
through the use of more robust methods to quantify larger debris. Over
three-quarters of the GPGP mass was carried by debris larger than 5 cm
and at least 46% was comprised of fishing nets. Microplastics accounted
for 8% of the total mass but 94% of the estimated 1.8 (1.1–3.6) trillion
pieces floating in the area. Plastic collected during our study has
specific characteristics such as small surface-to-volume ratio,
indicating that only certain types of debris have the capacity to
persist and accumulate at the surface of the GPGP. Finally, our results
suggest that ocean plastic pollution within the GPGP is increasing
exponentially and at a faster rate than in surrounding waters.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-22939-w.pdf

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1x3aEssgUnZvrWCG5B41y2bS_3ySCRvhf