Debris from the tsunami

November 10, 2012

See also http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20121110p2g00m0dm025000c.html

33,000 tons of quake debris to reach N. America by June 2013

Tsunami debris may reach US next month

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20121110_03.html

The massive debris from the tsunami that hit northeastern Japan last year may reach North America's west coast in December. Japan's Environment Ministry says that's two months later than previously predicted.

An estimated 1.5 million tons of debris from the tsunami is drifting in the ocean. Some of it has already reached the Pacific coast of North America.

The ministry has commissioned groups of researchers at Kyoto University and other institutions to analyze the debris' movement.

They predict that about 33,000 tons of household debris will have reached North America by next June.

They also say fishing boats and buoys are drifting west and are expected to reach the waters off the Philippines in February.

That debris is prone to movement by winds as it is exposed above the ocean's surface.

The Environment Ministry has reported these estimates to the governments of the United States and Canada.