Mechanism of garbages floating to the Iriomote Island

Abstract

 Garbages from the surrounding countries including East Asia float to the Iriomote Island where the nature indigenous to the subtropical zone flourishes. This research studied situations of garbages drifting to the Iriomote Island by focusing on the current, the dirction of the shore, determination of origin of PET bottles and the direction of wind. As a result, it showed that the drift of garbages depends on wind direction along the northern seashore of the Iriomote Island and on wind direction as well as current along the southern seashore. Knowledge obtained through this reseach is useful for effective measures of garbages not only in the Iriomote Island but also in other areas.