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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 4, 2026

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Litter survey detects the South Atlantic 'garbage patch'.

Peter G Ryan1

  • 1Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.

Marine Pollution Bulletin
|December 24, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Marine plastic debris accumulates in the South Atlantic gyre, with higher densities observed between Cape Town and Tristan da Cunha. This study mapped floating litter distribution, revealing significant accumulation zones.

Keywords:
Marine debrisPlastic litterSeaweedSouth Atlantic gyreSurveyWindage

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Area of Science:

  • Marine pollution
  • Oceanography
  • Environmental science

Background:

  • Floating marine debris poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems.
  • Surface drift models predict a South Atlantic 'garbage patch', but empirical data on its extent is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the distribution and abundance of floating marine debris (>1cm) in the southeast Atlantic Ocean.
  • To investigate litter accumulation zones, particularly along the predicted southern edge of the South Atlantic gyre.

Main Methods:

  • A distance-based technique was employed to survey marine debris.
  • Surveys were conducted between Cape Town and Tristan da Cunha, covering coastal to oceanic waters.

Main Results:

  • Plastic constituted 97% of the detected marine litter.
  • Litter density decreased from coastal waters off Cape Town to oceanic regions.
  • Higher litter densities (6.2 ± 1.3 items km⁻²) were found between 3-8°E compared to adjacent waters and the central South Atlantic.

Conclusions:

  • Floating marine debris is accumulating in the South Atlantic gyre, extending as far south as 34-35°S.
  • The presence of high litter density with few seaweeds suggests long-term accumulation of debris in this gyre.