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Science Results : Daily Update
Daily Update | Current SEA Research
June 17, 2010
By Giora Proskurowski Over the past few tows the haul of plastics has returned to higher numbers, between 150 and 250 per tow. This suggests that the lower values observed during the previous 24 to 48 hours were a reflection of the natural unevenness of plastic distribution. The overarching goal of this expedition, and the objective that secured funding from NOAA and NFWF, is to map the distribution and concentration of plastic debris as far east as possible. On a tall-ship sailing vessel, operating in this region is fairly tricky. For the exact reasons that plastics accumulate in the gyre – low and variable winds and currents – using the winds as propulsion can be unpredictable.
Our plan has been to get as far east as we dare while remaining north of 30°N latitude, as south of 30°N there is a much higher likelihood of encountering easterly winds (winds from the east). So far we've had pretty good luck with the wind and weather getting us east without too much use of our engine.
We will continue taking surface net samples 3-4 times a day in an attempt to find the eastern edge of this region of high plastic accumulation. I would like to get to at least 40°W, or just past the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the spreading center that is pushing North America and Europe apart.
We are currently about 750 nautical miles from Bermuda, with another 550 or so to go before 40°W. For the past eight or so hours we've had winds from the east as the center of the latest high-pressure weather system raced eastwards. During this time we mostly motored to go east, but as the wind started to moderate and come slightly south, we are now sailing under the four lowers (jib, forestays'l, mainstays'l, and mains'l) on a course of 060 – not exactly the direction we want, but we're still heading east.
We hope our interpretations of the weather maps are correct, and that we'll be sailing east with a pleasant breeze on our starboard quarter by morning, interrupted only by a midnight neuston tow.
