Presentation given to group of high school marine science teachers on the Scripps Environmental Accumulation of Plastics Expedition and how teachers can get involved.

1. Journey to the Center of the Gyre: The Scripps Environmental Accumulation of Plastic Expedition (SEAPLEX) Miriam Goldstein Scripps Institution of Oceanography March 6, 2009

2. Mission: Find & explore the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”

4. Wind-driven circulation: How the plastic gets to the middle of the ocean

5. Trade winds and westerlies (jet stream) drive the oceanic gyres

6. Stuff accumulates in the calm center of the North Pacific Gyre

7. And since plastic doesn’t biodegrade…

8. The SEAPLEX Cruise Track August 5-17, 2009

9. SEAPLEX Science: Where is the plastic? NOAA

10. The mighty plankton tow