Tsunami Debris Heading East

Sailors en route to or from the Hawaiian Islands have always had to keep a sharp eye out for shipping traffic, migrating whales and runaway containers, but they’ll soon have another — potentially more ominous — hazard to deal with. Researchers predict that in roughly a year all sorts of floating debris from the recent Japanese tsunami will begin showing up on Hawaiian beaches, and within three years some of the rubble — which currently includes trees, boats, cars, construction materials and toxic chemicals — will make its way to the beaches along the west coast of North America.

Scientists at the International Pacific Research Center of the University of Hawaii have developed a theoretical drift model based on the behavior of drifting buoys deployed for years in the ocean. Their study indicates that much of the debris will probably eventually find its way into the so-called North Pacific Garbage Patch where it will circulate for years before breaking into small fragments. This is sad news indeed — as it Mother Ocean didn’t have enough ‘health’ issues to deal with already.