How big is that mass of plastic?

Add comment April 27th, 2009

In the ocean, that is… This Wall Street Journal article begs the question, since there’s apparently no real way to measure it. Plus it’s not always visible at the Pacific surface.

Some say it is about the size of Quebec, or 600,000 square miles — also described as twice the size of Texas. Others say this expanse of junk swept together by currents is the size of the U.S. — 3.8 million square miles. Or, it could be twice that size.

On a related note, “billionaire eco-warrior” David de Rothschild is supposed to sail this summer across the Pacific in a recycled plastic craft to draw attention to the problem that this mass causes to wildlife.