What Is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

The Great Pacific garbage patch is a garbage patch, a gyre of marine debris particles, in the central North Pacific Ocean.

What makes up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

A garbage patch is made up of tiny plastic pieces called “microplastics” that are less than 5 millimeters long. It's more like pepper flakes swirling in a soup than something you can skim off the surface.

What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and how did it come to be?

The Great Pacific garbage patch formed gradually as a result of ocean or marine pollution gathered by ocean currents. It occupies a relatively stationary region of the North Pacific Ocean bounded by the North Pacific Gyre in the horse latitudes.

Marcus Vance

Marcus Vance

Cybersecurity & Digital Privacy Researcher

Marcus Vance is a cybersecurity auditor and technology writer dedicated to educating the public about online safety, data privacy regulations, enterprise security, and emerging cyber threats.