Environment

Pacific Garbage Patch Survey

A new survey of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch finds that the enormous floating mass of trash is far denser and larger than previously believed.

In a series of low-altitude, low-speed aerial flights over the plastic accumulation zone between Hawaii and California, the Dutch-based Ocean Cleanup foundation found chunks of garbage, mostly plastics. Many of the debris items measured more than half a yard in diameter.

The field also contains far smaller bits that were detected by experimental plastic- scanning equipment.

The foundation plans to soon begin testing a V-shaped rubber boom designed to “herd” the floating debris into a recovery cone.