2 ms·
The bulk of the mass is in larger pieces, but the number of tiny pieces vastly outnumbers the large pieces. Imagine it being like an extension of this set of p
by manicdee 8y ago
The bulk of the mass is in larger pieces, but the number of tiny pieces vastly outnumbers the large pieces.
Imagine it being like an extension of this set of plastic piece masses: (100, 80, 50, 25, 10, 5, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1)
One large piece (say, a Troll doll) has more mass than the pieces is breaks down into, but those pieces are more numerous than the whole doll.
- mirimir 8y agoWell, Ocean Cleanup says "the majority of plastic by mass", so that seems to address your size distribution argument. I am guessing, however, that their evidence shows that "the majority of plastic by mass" in the top whatever meters is in large pieces, but the distribution of small pieces goes far deeper.
- mreome 8y agoThat is one of the criticisms of project's research. They only looked at the water column to a depth of 5m, while other studies have seen that the plastics disperse to depths of at least 100m.
- skrebbel 8y ago"amount of pieces" is a terrible way to measure garbage though.
- manicdee 8y agoDistribution of piece sizes is pertinent when selecting a technology for cleaning up the mess.