Trash Talk: Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a large area of marine debris, which forms by rotating ocean currents. These currents, also known as gyres, act like whirlpools and collect floating pieces of microplastics. Part of the "Trash Talk" series.
Media Details
Runtime: 2 minutes 8 seconds
- Topic: Science
- Subtopic: Conservation, Environmental Issues, Marine Life
- Grade/Interest Level: 7 - 12
- Standards:
- Release Year: 2015
- Producer/Distributor: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Series: Trash Talk
- Report a Problem
Available Resources
Related Media
![Very close up view of microplastics. Caption: Microplastics that as less than five millimeters long--](https://org-dcmp-staticassets.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/posterimages/11602_1.jpg)
Trash Talk
Episode 1
2 minutes 8 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Trash Talk
Episode 1
2 minutes 8 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Trash Talk: Great Pacific Garbage Patch
![Artwork of a bird and fish. Caption: animals often mistake plastic debris for food and eat it.](https://org-dcmp-staticassets.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/posterimages/11603_1.jpg)
Trash Talk
Episode 2
1 minutes 33 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Trash Talk
Episode 2
1 minutes 33 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Trash Talk: Impacts
![Artwork of plastic water bottle, trash bags, straws, and plastic bag. Caption: We find plastic everywhere,](https://org-dcmp-staticassets.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/posterimages/11604_1.jpg)
Trash Talk
Episode 3
2 minutes 19 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Trash Talk
Episode 3
2 minutes 19 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Trash Talk: Plastics
![Five people picking up trash. Caption: and participate in shoreline cleanups.](https://org-dcmp-staticassets.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/posterimages/11605_1.jpg)
Trash Talk
Episode 4
1 minutes 58 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Trash Talk
Episode 4
1 minutes 58 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Trash Talk: What Can We Do About Marine Debris?
![A net floating in water tangled in plastic. Caption: We call that derelict fishing gear,](https://org-dcmp-staticassets.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/posterimages/11606_1.jpg)
Trash Talk
Episode 5
2 minutes 6 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Trash Talk
Episode 5
2 minutes 6 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Trash Talk: What Is Marine Debris?
![An illustration of a trash bin with its side on the road on a rainy day. Caption: rainwater can move the trash into storm drains.](https://org-dcmp-staticassets.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/posterimages/11607_1.jpg)
Trash Talk
Episode 6
2 minutes 2 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Trash Talk
Episode 6
2 minutes 2 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Trash Talk: Where Does Marine Debris Come From?