Because it may take a couple of years for the trash to collect in areas, and due to the constant water moving, I believe we need to observe this over two years. Not much is documented in regards to water samples in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. My hypothesis after checking water samples, oxygen level and phytoplankton levels, is: a decrease in oxygen, which creates dead zones and decreases in phytoplankton and nutrients, with an increase in bacteria and other toxins.
Materials and Methods
1. Master Data Sheet
2. Plankton Counter
3. Hydro-lab
4. Niskin bottle
5. Water quality test kit
6. Ship with a lab on board
Research and data collection would be onboard a ship where the garbage patch is currently located. Starting