Questions:
1. Using the map provided above and the definition of gyre, how many gyres does the Earth have? Use the ocean they are located in to list them.
$> There are six gyres which are located in the North Pacific Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, South Pacific Ocean, and the South Atlantic Ocean.
2. If one degree of latitude is equivalent to 69.047 statute miles, how many miles across is the Central North Pacific Gyre? Using the map, estimate the surface area of the gyre.
$> The Central North Pacific Gyre would be at 5,523 miles. A possible estimation of the surface area could be 110,457.2 in statue miles.
3. If the surface of the California Current flows at approximately 1 km per hour, how far will a piece of marine debris move in 1 week?
$> A piece of marine debris could move 168 km in a week.
4. The North Pacific Current is warmer and faster than the California Current. It travels at speeds in the hundreds of kilometers per hour. SEAPLEX observers collected bottles written in Korean and Chinese(in addition to English). If the bottles floated across the Pacific Ocean from Asian shores, what is the least amount of time the bottles were in the water?
$> The least amount of time that the bottles were in the water when it was going to the Pacific Ocean, would be 17 hours.
5. If the Pacific Ocean is approximately 17,000 km from east to west, how many days would it take the research vessel, New Horizon, traveling at a maximum speed of 10 knots to cross it? (1 knot=1.852 kilometers per hour.) Ignore water currents influences on speed.
$> It would take about 38.2 days to cross at maximum speed.
6. If the eastern edge of the Pacific Gyre is located approximately 1000 miles off the coast of California, how long would it take the New Horizon to reach it?
$> It would take 625 hours to reach the coast of California.
7. On average the New Horizon ship uses 1000 gallons of fuel per day. Do you believe that the amount of fuel it takes to reach the Patch is worth using in order to study the Garbage Patch?
$> Yes, it is worth to study the Garbage Patch, but at the same time it is also a big waste of fuel.
8. Some activists note that plastic collected from the gyre can be recycled and converted in diesel fuel. In the October 2009 issue of Rolling Stone, Captain Charles Moore argues that there is no way the Garbage Patch can be cleaned up because the collection of the small pieces of plastic is impractical. Research these two opinions and list three supporting arguments and counter arguments for each one.
$> Pros: - Take a look around you, most of the foods and drinks come in packaged plastic.
- It is more convenient, you don't need to do much when it comes in packaged.
- Plastic lasts a long time for use.
Cons: - It causes pollution.
- It causes sea animals to die when they eat it or get stuck in it.
- It is a hard substance to get rid of.
9.Debris that avoids being pulled into the gyre and continues to circulate around the Pacific Ocean ends up on to the shores of beaches. Investigate how much plastic is found on the various shores and how much is estimated to be in the ocean. Which of the two collections of plastic (in the gyre verses on the shore) do you feel should have a greater priority in terms of public policy and why?
$> I believe the North and South Pacific Ocean should have a public policy, because their gyres have a really big circulation which can have a lot of trash get into the ocean.10. Research information about the Central North Pacific Gyre over the past 10 years. What information and catch phrases seem to persist throughout your research? Why do you think the media continues to use these phrases and ideas? Has any new information surfaced over the last year?
$> Some of the catch phrases are "Reduce and recycle," and "give a hoot, don't pollute." These information are used to remind what they can do to help." There are some new information, but not many since the last year.
1. Using the map provided above and the definition of gyre, how many gyres does the Earth have? Use the ocean they are located in to list them.
$> There are six gyres which are located in the North Pacific Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, South Pacific Ocean, and the South Atlantic Ocean.
2. If one degree of latitude is equivalent to 69.047 statute miles, how many miles across is the Central North Pacific Gyre? Using the map, estimate the surface area of the gyre.
$> The Central North Pacific Gyre would be at 5,523 miles. A possible estimation of the surface area could be 110,457.2 in statue miles.
3. If the surface of the California Current flows at approximately 1 km per hour, how far will a piece of marine debris move in 1 week?
$> A piece of marine debris could move 168 km in a week.
4. The North Pacific Current is warmer and faster than the California Current. It travels at speeds in the hundreds of kilometers per hour. SEAPLEX observers collected bottles written in Korean and Chinese(in addition to English). If the bottles floated across the Pacific Ocean from Asian shores, what is the least amount of time the bottles were in the water?
$> The least amount of time that the bottles were in the water when it was going to the Pacific Ocean, would be 17 hours.
5. If the Pacific Ocean is approximately 17,000 km from east to west, how many days would it take the research vessel, New Horizon, traveling at a maximum speed of 10 knots to cross it? (1 knot=1.852 kilometers per hour.) Ignore water currents influences on speed.
$> It would take about 38.2 days to cross at maximum speed.
6. If the eastern edge of the Pacific Gyre is located approximately 1000 miles off the coast of California, how long would it take the New Horizon to reach it?
$> It would take 625 hours to reach the coast of California.
7. On average the New Horizon ship uses 1000 gallons of fuel per day. Do you believe that the amount of fuel it takes to reach the Patch is worth using in order to study the Garbage Patch?
$> Yes, it is worth to study the Garbage Patch, but at the same time it is also a big waste of fuel.
8. Some activists note that plastic collected from the gyre can be recycled and converted in diesel fuel. In the October 2009 issue of Rolling Stone, Captain Charles Moore argues that there is no way the Garbage Patch can be cleaned up because the collection of the small pieces of plastic is impractical. Research these two opinions and list three supporting arguments and counter arguments for each one.
$> Pros: - Take a look around you, most of the foods and drinks come in packaged plastic.
- It is more convenient, you don't need to do much when it comes in packaged.
- Plastic lasts a long time for use.
Cons: - It causes pollution.
- It causes sea animals to die when they eat it or get stuck in it.
- It is a hard substance to get rid of.
9.Debris that avoids being pulled into the gyre and continues to circulate around the Pacific Ocean ends up on to the shores of beaches. Investigate how much plastic is found on the various shores and how much is estimated to be in the ocean. Which of the two collections of plastic (in the gyre verses on the shore) do you feel should have a greater priority in terms of public policy and why?
$> I believe the North and South Pacific Ocean should have a public policy, because their gyres have a really big circulation which can have a lot of trash get into the ocean.10. Research information about the Central North Pacific Gyre over the past 10 years. What information and catch phrases seem to persist throughout your research? Why do you think the media continues to use these phrases and ideas? Has any new information surfaced over the last year?
$> Some of the catch phrases are "Reduce and recycle," and "give a hoot, don't pollute." These information are used to remind what they can do to help." There are some new information, but not many since the last year.