Flotsametrics and the Floating World：How One Man's Obsession with Runaway Sneakers and Rubber Ducks Revolutionized Ocean Science

PioneeringoceanographerCurtisEbbesmeyerunravelsthemysteryofmarinecurrents,uncoverstheastonishingstoryofflotsam,andchangestheworld'sviewoftrash,theocean,andourglobalenvironment.CurtisEbbesmeyerisnoordinaryscientist.He'sbeenaconsultingoceanographerformultinationalfirmsandaleadscientistoninternationalresearchexpeditions,buthe'sneverheldaconventionalacademicappointment.Heseizedtheworld'simaginationasnootherscientistcouldwhenheandhisworldwidenetworkofbeachcombervolunteerstracedtheocean'scurrentsusingthousandsofsneakersandplasticbathtoysspilledfromstorm-tossedfreighters.Now,forthefirsttime,Ebbesmeyertellsthestoryofhislifelongstruggletosolvethesea'smysterieswhilesharinghismostsurprisingdiscoveries.Herecountshowflotsamhaschangedthecourseofhistory—leadingVikingmarinerstosafeharbors,ColumbustotheNewWorld,andJapantoopenuptotheWest—andhowitmayevenhavemadetheoriginoflifepossible.Hechasesicebergsandfloatingislands;investigatesoceanmysteriesfromghostshipstoaspateofwashed-upseveredfeetonCanadianbeaches;andexplorestheenormousfloating"garbagepatches"andwaste-heaped"junkbeaches"thatcollecttheflotsamandjetsamofindustrialsociety.Finally,Ebbesmeyerrevealstherhythmicandharmonicorderinthevastoceaniccurrentscalledgyres—"theheartbeatoftheworld"—andthethreatsthatglobalwarminganddisintegratingplasticwasteposetotheseas...andtous.