Microplastic pollution could be changing the color of the Pacific Ocean

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a region of the Pacific Ocean where debris naturally accumulates, appears to be changing the color of the ocean, according to satellite data. The ocean's classic blue and green tones have become brighter near the patch over the past two decades, according to a study published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.

Daniel Koestner, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Bergen in Norway, and his team examined 20 years of satellite data from this region, which is notorious for the high concentration of plastic debris. The researchers found that waters near the Great Pacific Garbage Patch have gotten brighter in both the blue and green wavelengths, compared to surrounding areas.

While the study does not definitively prove that microplastics directly cause this color change, it is supported by lab experiments showing that microplastics scatter more light than organic material in the ocean. Lead author Shea Cheatham, a Ph.D. student at the University of Bergen, noted that further verification is needed, such as collecting direct ocean samples from the garbage patch.

However, the findings highlight the prevalence of microplastics in the ocean and their potential impact on marine life and seafood consumption. The researchers hope their methods can be replicated to identify other areas worldwide where microplastics have accumulated, potentially serving as targets for cleanup efforts.