Observed arrival · 2026-11-04
A true-scale map of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
An interactive explainer uses survey data to show the patch’s scale, composition, and historical net-tow comparisons.
- For
- Readers exploring ocean-plastic data and scale
- Worth noticing
- The page compares typical net-tow samples by decade, while noting that early inside-patch records are sparse and methods varied.
Field notes
Map controls let readers inspect modeled floating-plastic estimates on cells about 20 km across, then relocate a 1.6-million-km² outline to compare its scale with places on land. A separate decade view compares typical net-tow catches inside and outside the patch, with an explicit warning that methods varied and inside-patch samples were sparse in the 1980s and 1990s. The material breakdown distinguishes counts from weight: the page says microplastics account for 93% of pieces but less than 1% of weight.
Observed signals
Read the marks
Editorial observations of this landing page, not a rating.
One card from the complete issue