Longobardi focuses on the use of plastic as an allusion to the current climate crisis and the emergence of the Anthropocene, a modern geological term, not yet internationally recognized by the scientific community, to reference a period of time in which the ecosystems of earth are heavily shaped by human pollution. Specifically, Longobardi addresses human kind's relationship to plastic and the nature of its short duration of use compared to the time it spends lingering in oceans and other ecosystems as waste and pollution. From mass consumption and disposal of plastic, masses of plastic now float around Pacific and create a very physical new scape within the ocean. Longobardi addresses this physical interruption of plastic is and goes as far to say that centuries from now, plastic will act as the main "fossil" or indicator of our anthologies.
Questions:
- Is "Antrhopocene" widely discussed in the scientific community?
Yes. Anthropocene has been discussed since he 60s by Russian scientists and later recognized by others. In 2008, the term was discussed at the Geological Society of London and is often used by modern scientists to describe a geological period or era separate from previous on the Geological Time Scale because human behavior has so heavily influenced the atmosphere (specifically the lithosphere) and wordily ecosystems. Scientists estimate the beginning of this era to be right before the the Industrial Revolution (Late 1800s).
- How does the oil found in plastic impact and change ecosystems?
- How much of the garbage floating in the Pacific is comprised of plastic?
A majority of the debris floating in the vortex is plastic due to it's inability to decompose.
80% comes from land related activities of North America and Asia, 20% from the boating and oil rigging within the ocean (of this, 705,000 is fishing nets).
Although the plastics never completely decompose, through exposure to the sun, they go through the process of photo degeneration in which the pieces of plastic are broken down into smaller and smaller pieces and simultaneously release harmful chemicals such as BPAs which both damage ecosystems and pollute potential drinking water. This also poses an issue in the food web when marine life mistake plastics for food or when plastic surface coverage blocks algae from receiving the sunlight necessary to survive. As the one of the bases of marine food chain, this could severely impact the survival of other species.
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/
"The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program has estimated that it would take 67 ships one year to clean up less than one percent of the North Pacific Ocean."
Questions:
- Is "Antrhopocene" widely discussed in the scientific community?
Yes. Anthropocene has been discussed since he 60s by Russian scientists and later recognized by others. In 2008, the term was discussed at the Geological Society of London and is often used by modern scientists to describe a geological period or era separate from previous on the Geological Time Scale because human behavior has so heavily influenced the atmosphere (specifically the lithosphere) and wordily ecosystems. Scientists estimate the beginning of this era to be right before the the Industrial Revolution (Late 1800s).
- How does the oil found in plastic impact and change ecosystems?
- How much of the garbage floating in the Pacific is comprised of plastic?
A majority of the debris floating in the vortex is plastic due to it's inability to decompose.
80% comes from land related activities of North America and Asia, 20% from the boating and oil rigging within the ocean (of this, 705,000 is fishing nets).
Although the plastics never completely decompose, through exposure to the sun, they go through the process of photo degeneration in which the pieces of plastic are broken down into smaller and smaller pieces and simultaneously release harmful chemicals such as BPAs which both damage ecosystems and pollute potential drinking water. This also poses an issue in the food web when marine life mistake plastics for food or when plastic surface coverage blocks algae from receiving the sunlight necessary to survive. As the one of the bases of marine food chain, this could severely impact the survival of other species.
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/
"The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program has estimated that it would take 67 ships one year to clean up less than one percent of the North Pacific Ocean."
http://hyperallergic.com/231979/one-artists-quest-to-turn-beach-plastic-into-art/