Plastic on beaches around the world can now be detected from space by satellites. What could the researchers see?
Researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia have developed a new satellite imaging technique that can identify plastic on beaches by measuring the differences in light reflected by the debris compared to the surrounding sand, water or vegetation. according to a university statement.
This technique has been successfully tested by satellites observing an isolated stretch of coast in Australia. By looking for unique spectral features in the plastic, the satellites were able to pinpoint it on the beach from more than 600 kilometers above sea level.
Thus, this satellite technology not only improves the detection of plastic waste, but can also support clean-up operations to protect vulnerable environments such as beaches, the researchers said.
Plastic on beaches can now be seen much more easily from satellite
“Although the impacts of ocean plastic on the environment, fisheries and tourism are well documented, methods of measuring the extent of the problem or targeting clean-up operations, sometimes required in isolated locations, have been limited by available technology,” a afirmat Jenna Guffogglead author of the study.
This research extends existing satellite technology used to detect floating plastic in the ocean. The team developed a new spectral index, called the Beach Plastic Debris Index (BPDI), to identify patterns in reflected light collected by satellites as they pass over an area and identify plastic that can easily be mistaken for sand.
The team placed 14 different types of plastic on a beach in Gippsland, Victoria, to test BPDI using WorldView-3, an Earth observation satellite operated by Maxar Technologies.
Data collected by the satellite showed that the new index was more effective at differentiating beach plastic than three other existing satellite technologies, which typically misclassified shadows or water as plastic.
Millions of tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year
“This is an incredible achievement, because until now we have not had an instrument to detect plastic in coastal environments from space. Detection is an essential step to understand where plastic accumulates and to plan clean-up operations, which aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals, such as Protecting Seas and Oceans,” said study co-author Mariela Soto-Berelov.
Next, the team plans to use BPDI to scan more stretches of coastline and test its ability to detect plastic in real environments. This advanced satellite imaging technique is becoming increasingly important given that more than 10 million tons of plastic waste end up in Earth’s oceans each year, with estimates that this amount could rise to 60 million tons by 2030. Plastic can endanger wildlife when it is mistaken for food, when animals become entangled in it, or when it breaks down into micro or nanoplastics, the researchers explained.
“We are looking for partners for the next stage of research. It’s an opportunity to help us protect delicate beaches from plastic waste,” said Soto-Berelov, quoted by Space.com.
Their study was published in Marine Pollution Journal.
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Source: www.descopera.ro
