Measuring Marine Plastic Debris from Space: Initial Assessment of Observation Requirements

Type Article
Date 2019-10
Language English
Author(s) Martínez-Vicente Víctor1, Clark James R.1, Corradi Paolo2, Aliani Stefano3, Arias Manuel4, Bochow Mathias5, Bonnery Guillaume6, Cole Matthew1, Cózar Andrés7, Donnelly Rory8, Echevarría Fidel7, Galgani FrancoisORCID9, Garaba Shungudzemwoyo P.10, 11, Goddijn-Murphy Lonneke12, Lebreton Laurent10, Leslie Heather A.13, Lindeque Penelope K.1, Maximenko Nikolai14, Martin-Lauzer François-Régis4, Moller Delwyn15, Murphy Peter16, 17, Palombi Lorenzo18, Raimondi Valentina18, Reisser Julia19, Romero Laia20, Simis Stefan G.H.1, Sterckx Sindy21, Thompson Richard C.22, Topouzelis Konstantinos N.23, Van Sebille Erik Van24, Veiga Joana Mira25, Vethaak A. Dick13, 25
Affiliation(s) 1 : Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK
2 : European Space Agency—ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, Postbus 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
3 : ISMAR-CNR, Forte Santa Teresa, Pozzuolo di Lerici, 19032 La Spezia, Italy
4 : ARGANS Ltd., Chamberlain House, 1 Research Way, Plymouth PL6 8BU, UK
5 : Section 1.4 Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam—GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
6 : Airbus Defence and Space—Space Systems 31, rue des Cosmonautes Z.I. du Palays, 31402 Toulouse, France
7 : Dpto. Biología, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEIMAR), Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Marinas (INMAR), Universidad de Cádiz, E-11510 Puerto Real, Spain
8 : European Association for Remote Sensing Companies (EARSC), Rue de la Loi 26, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
9 : IFREMER, LER/PAC, ZI Furiani, 20600 Bastia, France
10 : The Ocean Cleanup, Batavierenstraat 15, 4-7th floor, 3014 JH Rotterdam, The Netherlands
11 : Marine Sensor Systems Group, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) - Terramare, University of Oldenburg, Schleusenstr. 1, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
12 : Environmental Research Institute, University of the Highlands and Islands, Castle Street, Thurso, Caithness KW14 7JD, UK
13 : Dept. of Environment and Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
14 : International Pacific Research Center, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
15 : Department of Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
16 : Genwest Inc. 170 W. Dayton St. Suite 106A Edmonds, WA 98020, USA
17 : Marine Debris Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
18 : IFAC-CNR, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
19 : Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
20 : ISARDSAT, C. Marie Curie, 8-14, A213 08042 Barcelona, Spain
21 : Remote Sensing Unit, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
22 : International Marine Litter Research Unit, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK
23 : Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
24 : Institute for Marine and Atmospheric research, Utrecht University, PO Box 80125, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands
25 : DELTARES, 2600 MH Delft, The Netherlands
Source Remote Sensing (2072-4292) (MDPI AG), 2019-10 , Vol. 11 , N. 20 , P. 2443 (20p.)
DOI 10.3390/rs11202443
WOS© Times Cited 82
Note This article belongs to the Special Issue EO Solutions to Support Countries Implementing the SDGs
Keyword(s) remote sensing, marine plastic debris, mission requirements, hyperspectral sensors, multispectral imagers, high spatial resolution, sensors synergy, submesoscale processes
Abstract

Sustained observations are required to determine the marine plastic debris mass balance and to support effective policy for planning remedial action. However, observations currently remain scarce at the global scale. A satellite remote sensing system could make a substantial contribution to tackling this problem. Here, we make initial steps towards the potential design of such a remote sensing system by: (1) identifying the properties of marine plastic debris amenable to remote sensing methods and (2) highlighting the oceanic processes relevant to scientific questions about marine plastic debris. Remote sensing approaches are reviewed and matched to the optical properties of marine plastic debris and the relevant spatio-temporal scales of observation to identify challenges and opportunities in the field. Finally, steps needed to develop marine plastic debris detection by remote sensing platforms are proposed in terms of fundamental science as well as linkages to ongoing planning for satellite systems with similar observation requirements.

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Martínez-Vicente Víctor, Clark James R., Corradi Paolo, Aliani Stefano, Arias Manuel, Bochow Mathias, Bonnery Guillaume, Cole Matthew, Cózar Andrés, Donnelly Rory, Echevarría Fidel, Galgani Francois, Garaba Shungudzemwoyo P., Goddijn-Murphy Lonneke, Lebreton Laurent, Leslie Heather A., Lindeque Penelope K., Maximenko Nikolai, Martin-Lauzer François-Régis, Moller Delwyn, Murphy Peter, Palombi Lorenzo, Raimondi Valentina, Reisser Julia, Romero Laia, Simis Stefan G.H., Sterckx Sindy, Thompson Richard C., Topouzelis Konstantinos N., Van Sebille Erik Van, Veiga Joana Mira, Vethaak A. Dick (2019). Measuring Marine Plastic Debris from Space: Initial Assessment of Observation Requirements. Remote Sensing, 11(20), 2443 (20p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11202443 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00589/70077/