Marine Litter Tracking System: A Case Study with Open-Source Technology and a Citizen Science-Based Approach

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Oceanography
• Pollution Studies

Background:

• Rivers are primary pathways for ocean plastic pollution.
• Processes of debris displacement in rivers remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To track anthropogenic marine debris (AMD) movement from rivers using modern technology.
• To investigate marine litter dispersion dynamics in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Main Methods:

• Utilized innovative, low-cost, self-powered Marine Litter Trackers (MLT).
• Conducted five dispersion experiments across seasons and weather conditions.
• Integrated Lagrangian numerical models for deployment planning and data validation.

Main Results:

• Successfully tracked debris up to 2845 km over 94 days.
• Demonstrated the reliability and robustness of MLT in various conditions.
• Collected data for calibrating and validating numerical models.

Conclusions:

• MLT offers a viable, accessible method for tracking marine debris.
• Citizen science and open-source approaches can enhance data collection and raise awareness on AMD issues.
• The study provides insights into marine litter dispersion dynamics.