National Geographic explains:
“An ocean
gyre is a circular ocean current formed by the Earth’s wind patterns
and the forces created by the rotationof the planet. The area in the
center of a gyre tends to be very calm and stable. The circular motion
of the gyre draws in debris. Debris eventually makes its way into the
center of the gyre, where it becomes trapped and builds up. A similar
garbage patch exists in the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Gyre.
“Plastic products can be very harmful to marine life in the gyre. For instance,
loggerhead sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish. And many
marine mammals
and birds, such as albatrosses, have become strangled by the plastic
rings used to hold six-packs of soda together… As microplastics and
other trash collect on the surface of the ocean, they block sunlight
from reaching plankton and algae below.”
Dead
Albatross by Chris Jordan – where disposable lighters end up
Some
readers might be familiar with the film’s director, Chris Jordan, from
his stunning images of excess. He is a master of bringing numbers into
perspective. From cigarette butts to mushroom clouds, Jordan brings our
attention to the urgency of changing our behavior and, by extension, our
world.
Dead Albatross by Chris Jordan Pin It http://focusingonwildlife.com/news/if-you-care-about-birds-watch-this-4-minute-video/