Though most of the debris from the Japanese tsunami has sunk, approximately 1.5 million tons of it is still floating along in the Pacific. This floating pier broke off from Misaya in northern Japan during the earthquake/tsunami.
Apparently, foreign species from starfish to microbes have clung on to the debris. When introduced to the American West Coast, ecological havoc may result.
Source.
Fascinating stuff. Wonder how long the debris will keep washing up on shores around the world?
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the Geiger counter has to say about this.
ReplyDelete@Edvin: They say currents will keep most of the debris away from California beaches, but I'm tempted to go to the beach and check.
ReplyDelete@midelectric: Apparently, the debris washed away into the ocean before the nuclear meltdowns. So this pier at least is radiation-free.
Holy shit!
ReplyDeleteThat Harley Davidson that washed up in Canada boggled my mind.
Is it wrong that I'm completely fascinated by all this and that I would love to see everything that washes up on the beaches and also visit the places in Japan?
@F1O: That's why I posted this. It's incredible. I'm researching beaches here in California with a high prevalence for trash. I'm going beachcombing.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping for a dry, p^%sy magnet yellow Honda Beat.
Amazing. Is like the story about the Harley, wonderful stuff.
ReplyDeleteI, as a kid, actually thought about the possibilities of finding Japanese stuff when going to the beach here in Chile. Maybe now those hopes can come true... yes, a Honda Beat would be awesome... I'd be happy even if it was only a Tomica Beat, hehe.
And on the biological havoc part ... I wouldn't worry. Seas have bring moving stuff from shore to shore since time began.