Hundreds of sneakers wash onto the beaches of Canada, Washington, and Oregon. An Alaska-sized patch of floating garbage collects in the middle of the Pacific. Abandoned fishing nets drift through the sea, trapping animals and debris. Floating trash is a big environmental problem, but it also helps scientists conduct Earth-sized science experiments. By tracking the movement of floating garbage, oceanographers can learn more about ocean currents. Full-color photographs and diagrams. Glossary. Suggested reading. Index. A 2007 Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book. Winner of the 2008 IRA Children's and Young Adult's Book Award.
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When hundreds of sneakers washed up on the Washington coast, scientist Curt Ebbesmeyer discovered that they came from a cargo spill, and he began studying the Pacific Ocean's currents. Burns's book conveys solid scientific explanations of ocean patterns and discusses the tracking of debris and the effect of ocean trash on the environment. Scientific information builds, creating a natural detective story. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.