User:Emilycast1211/sandbox

Location and Size
Multiple studies have been conducted to predict where surface pollution will end up in the ocean, and each model suggests an accumulation in mid-ocean subtropical gyres, so the general flow of these gyres may help predict where the accumulation occurs, though it does not help in predicting the exact size. Litter accumulation may differ in studies, but the South Atlantic Garbage Patch is at its highest concentration at around 25-35°S and 0-20°W. Although the smallest of the garbage patches, covering approximately 715,520 square km (276,263 square mi), it still qualifies as one of the main garbage patches. Located within the South Atlantic Gyre, this garbage patch follows the same behavior as other patches do to accumulate debris. While, even in the 1970s, there was an identified concentration of debris in the southeast Atlantic Ocean through sampling west of 12°E, recent studies suggest different areas to identify the garbage patch. However, the South Atlantic garbage patch is recorded to have a high macro debris load of 5 tons, posing a distinct danger to the surrounding marine life.

Amount of Pollutants, Composition, Potential Sources
There is various speculation on the sources of the pollution that makes up the South Atlantic garbage patch. It is sourced from individuals, but the issue lies in tracking where a majority of macro debris comes from, in terms of land or ships. While many assume that over 80% of the debris in the sea is from land-based sources, there is little evidence to agree with this assumption, but there are various analyses that link pollutants to specific areas/activities. Much of the macro debris found in garbage patches is fishery related, such as nets and fishery gear, so there is the assumption that these are likely not land-based. However, determining the sources of other items, such as food or domestic goods, from land or ships proves difficult due to the possibility of it coming from either source. Due to this complication, it is difficult to determine the main source of pollution, rejecting the traditional assumption of a majority of ocean pollution belonging to land-based sources, and recognizing the possibility of other causes.

Analysis of debris, plastic bottles in particular because of how identifiable they are and their accumulation in other sites, show how varied the pollutant sources are, with 75% of analyzed bottles in the South Atlantic garbage patch identified as being from Asia. However, some models also suggest that a majority of sea debris comes from South America, but there is no conclusive source for pollutants in the South Atlantic.