Tsunami
generated massive wave of ocean debris still on its way to
west coast of N. America
From correspondents in Hononlulu
AP
February 29, 2012 4:44AM
TSUNAMIS generated by the magnitude-9 earthquake in Japan last
March dragged up to 3.6 million tonnes of debris into the ocean
after tearing up Japanese harbours and homes.
Scientists believe ocean currents are carrying some of the lumber,
refrigerators, fishing boats and other objects across the Pacific
toward the United States.
One to five per cent of the 0.9 - 1.8 million tonnes of debris
still in the ocean may reach Hawaii, Alaska, Oregon and Washington
and British Columbia, said University of Hawaii senior researcher
and ocean current expert Nikolai Maximenko.
That's only a portion of the 18 - 23 million tonnes of debris the
tsunamis generated altogether, including what was left on land.
Mr Maximenko plans to discuss his latest estimates for where the
debris is and when it may wash ashore today.
Last year, his team estimated debris could arrive in Hawaii in
early 2013.
Some debris appears to have already arrived in the US, like a
half-dozen large buoys suspected to be from Japanese oyster farms
found in Alaska late last year.
Nicholas Mallos, conservation biologist and marine debris
specialist for the Ocean Conservancy, said many of the objects are
expected to be from Japan's fishing industry. The conservancy is
hosting the news conference.
Fishing gear could harm wildlife, such as endangered Hawaiian monk
seals, if it washes up on coral reefs or beaches.
"The major question is how much of that material has sank since
last year, and how much of that remains afloat or still in the
water column," Mr Mallos said.
It's unclear whether items like refrigerators will make it across
because there's little precedent for such things in the ocean.
Computer models created by the University of Hawaii indicate the
debris is spread far apart across thousands of miles from the
eastern coast of Japan to an area some 1600 kilometres north of
the Hawaiian Islands.
"The debris field is largely dispersed over a large area. And
because of that dispersion, we can no longer rely on satellite
imagery to track the debris," Mr Mallos said.