Tsunami debris research expedition sailing in May
FILE - This file photo taken Tuesday Feb. 21
FILE - This file photo taken March 13, 2011, and provided by the U.S. Navy, shows a Japanese home adrift in the Pacific Ocean, days after a massive earthquake and the ensuing tsunami hit Japan's east coast. Scientists believe ocean waves carried away 3-4 million tons of the 20 million tons of debris created by tsunamis that slammed into Japan after a magnitude-9.0 earthquake nearly a year ago. One-to-two million tons of it _ lumber and other construction material, fishing boats and other fragments of coastal towns _ are still in the water and are being carried across the Pacific by ocean currents. One to five percent of that may reach coastlines in Hawaii, Alaska, Oregon and Washington states. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy, Dylan McCord)
Researchers are planning to sail from Japan to Hawaii to study debris dragged out to sea by tsunamis on March 11 last year.
They’re expected to leave Tokyo in late May and arrive on Maui about a month later.
Ocean Conservancy marine debris specialist Nicholas Mallos is joining the expedition.
He said in a statement Wednesday models exist to predict where the debris is, but it’s not clear what’s still floating. He says the expedition will provide a snapshot of what may wash ashore later.
Nonprofit organizations 5Gyres and Algalita are organizing the expedition with Pangaea Explorations, a group that supports marine conservation and education.
Ocean currents are carrying much of the debris eastward across the Pacific Ocean. Scientists estimate pieces could land in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands this winter.
