Research
Microplastics change the colour of the sea near the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Nature ·
The Brief
- Waters near the Great Pacific Garbage Patch appear greener and bluer than usual.
- The colour change is attributed to high levels of tiny plastic particles in the water.
- The findings were published online in Nature on 11 November 2026.
Why it matters
Microplastics can change how ocean water looks, which suggests they can be detected and mapped through changes in sea colour. This matters for researchers tracking plastic pollution in the open ocean.
Who’s affected
- marine scientists
- ocean and environmental researchers
- #microplastics
- #ocean
- #marine pollution
- #great pacific garbage patch
- #ocean colour
Nature, Published online: 11 November 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-03637-4 The waters around the zone of floating debris appear greener and bluer on account of high levels of tiny bits of plastic.
Timeline
Study published online in Nature
nature.com
Microplastics change the colour of the sea near the Great Pacific Garbage Patch