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INTERPRETING REAL SAMPLING DATA
Great Pacific Garbage Patch trawl data — read the dataset, then answer the questions.
📊 DATASET: NORTH PACIFIC GYRE SURFACE TRAWL SURVEY
The table below shows representative data from surface trawl surveys of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, based on published field sampling studies. Samples were collected at five stations across the gyre at varying distances from the convergence zone center. Particle counts were normalized to particles per cubic meter of surface water sampled.
A surface trawl uses a fine-mesh net dragged along the ocean surface to capture floating particles. Note that this method captures only particles that float at the surface — it misses particles that have sunk, are neutrally buoyant, or are too small to be caught in the mesh.
⚠ Values are representative/illustrative based on published literature ranges. Actual field data varies significantly by season, location, and sampling method.TABLE 1 — NORTH PACIFIC GYRE SURFACE TRAWL DATA
| Station | Distance from center (km) | Total particles (p/m³) | % Microplastic (<5mm) | Dominant plastic type | PFAS surface load (ng/g) |
|---|
FIGURE 1 — PARTICLE CONCENTRATION VS. DISTANCE FROM GYRE CENTER
Station value
Trend line