Humanity's impact on the natural world can have disastrous effects. The Great Pacific Garbage Patchshines a light on the giant accumulation of garbage in the Pacific Ocean. With abundant charts and diagrams and large-format photos, this title explores the science behind ocean currents and plastic's chemical composition to explain the threat trash, especially plastic, poses for the world's oceans, and considers actions people and governments can take to try to improve the situation. Features include a flow chart showing the disaster's causes and effects, a glossary, references, websites, source notes, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.