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The Garbage Patch

Calm Before the Storm in the Gyre

Thursday, 24 September 2009

August 5th 2009

There was this feeling of a calm before the storm aboard the New Horizon. The weather had changed, the sun was shining with barely a cloud in the sky and we went from rough weather where people were taking seasickness pills and wearing the patch, to not needing anything to calm their stomach. Within a day we were going to be in the area of the Ocean that is termed, the North Pacific Gyre, more commonly referred to as the garbage patch.

Every scientist I interviewed gave credit to Dr. Charles Moore and the Algalita for bringing public awareness to this problem, or potential problem in the Ocean, but not one of them believed that the plastic and marine debris in the gyre was going to be as bad as portrayed. As scientists, they are trained to not believe until proven and that is what we were on our way to do. This group was trying to remain completely scientific and there were no emotions that were going to get in the way of their science. It was really interesting because as a filmmaker and journalist, I too have to remain objective, yet I did believe what we were going to find was going to be just as the other expeditions had reported. I too was not allowing emotions to show, just trying to remain professional. It was challenging sometimes within the group because we were all running on a couple hours of sleep each night and lots of caffeine!

Michelle Jackson first mate

We were deploying mantas and the CTD at regular intervals as well as the Acoustic Array for listening for dolphins and whales. Sunset was my favorite time as I had never been on any ship where it was so spectacular every night and it was my one �break� I allowed myself to have between shooting stills, video, editing, downloading and trying to stay on top of what was happening with the vessel. I became friends with Michelle Jackson, MJ, or EmJay. She was the first mate on the New Horizon, second in command next to the Captain and the only woman on the crew. Her shifts were 8:00 am � noon and 8:00 PM till midnight. The sun did not set until 9 and 10 at night the farther we moved west. Our days were the longest I had experienced as dawn began between 5 and 6 and twilight often lasted past 10 at night.

Tonight I not only was going to watch another amazing drop of the sun, but the full moon was going to rise as well. Because the only activity tonight on the ship was the pulling in of the acoustic array and the launch of another manta, I took a few creative shots of the scientists on deck and then started playing with the moon�s light upon the Ocean. Looking back at my time upon the SEAPLEX vessel and the time I spent with the sun rising or setting, reflections in the water, capturing the ocean in a way that others do not see is one of the ways I meditate and become completely enraptured in my work. And now, it is all about sharing this message with others. Please help us spread the word about this expedition as the problem of marine debris in our water is one of the top five problems facing the sea today.

Give the gift of the ocean today. Hang beautiful wall art or posters in your home from the Live Your Dreams collection

For more information go to check out these sites:
http://www.seaplexscience.com
http://www.projectkaisei.org
http://kaisei.blipback.com

Thank you to our sponsor, Samy's Camera

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