Researchers from the University of Michigan have compiled a way to use data collected by NASA satellites to track the movement of small plastic pieces in the Atlantic Ocean. The plastic they are trackers are known as microplastics and shapes when plastic waste in the ocean began to be damaged from the combination of sunlight and the movement of the sea waves. Microplastic is a significant concern for marine ecosystems because small pieces are harmful to marine organisms and ecosystems in general.
The strong current in the ocean means that microplastic can migrate hundreds or thousands of miles away from pollution sources, making it difficult to track and eliminate material. The main source of information about the microplastic location comes from fishermen who use nets to catch fish and accidentally take microplastics. However, the researchers now use new techniques that use data from the Global Navigation Navigation Satellite System, a constellation of eight small satellites designed to measure the speed of wind on the ocean.
While the satellite was originally designed to gather information about the strength of the storm, the radar used to measure marine roughness could be influenced by factors including wind speed and debris floating in the water. Researchers can work backwards to look for places where the ocean is finer than expected, given the wind speed, which they think may indicate the presence of microplastics. Scientists find that micro tends to be present in waters that are more smooth, indicating that satellite data can be used as a tool to track debris from outer space.
With a new tool for tracking plastic, scientists will be able to easily determine where the source of pollution originates and has the potential to clean pollution from the ocean. The results of the study were published on June 9 in the IEEE Geoscience transaction and remote sensor.
