May 8 - Oceans Could Contain More Plastic Than Estimated
A University of Washington scientist has calculated that past studies of oceanic plastic pollution underestimate the total plastic found by a factor of up to 27.
A new method of counting plastic by Giora Proskurowski includes wind strength as an influential factor. The higher the wind at the surface, the deeper the lightweight plastics can be found below.
Previous studies have typically skimmed the surface of ocean waters to count plastic. Proskurowski's method will include plastic as far down as 100 feet below the surface.
According to Discovery, he recently tested his method in the North Atlantic and "almost every tow we did contained plastic regardless of the depth."
Find out more about plastic pollution and its impact on our environment.
(photo credit: Sea Education Association)