We can all imagine that somewhere in our planet’s vast waterways, a discarded soda can has drifted from land to the bottom of the ocean floor. But just how much waste has truly accumulated in the ocean’s deepest depths, and where exactly is it coming from?
This past semester, University of Maryland Environmental Science & Policy (ENSP) students searched for answers to these mysteries and more through standardization and analysis of nine years worth of North Atlantic marine debris data collected via the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ship Okeanos Explorer.
In collaboration with NOAA, students poured through seemingly endless amounts of data and images from the Okeanos with an original dataset that contained over 500 SeaTube video observations, to see if they could get a better sense of what trash was most commonly found in the ocean and if there were any clusters or “hot spots.”
Their findings concluded that debris is most commonly found in close proximity to coastlines and human population centers, with metal being the most common type of debris observed, followed by plastic and fishing gear. Other items that were found included glass, fabric, rubber, wood, and paper. Two of the biggest outliers discovered were a refrigerator and a container of washing machines. Additional observations included that plastics were most concentrated in canyons and trenches and that debris decreases in density as depth increases.
“Getting the chance to work alongside NOAA and my fellow peers was both exhilarating and rewarding,” said student Anna Harmon ’24. “Throughout the semester I learned so much about the impact that human activities have on the ocean environment and the important role science can play in informing policy decisions. It was beyond gratifying to know that our work has the potential to shape future efforts to protect marine ecosystems.”
The students’ final presentation titled, “Characterizing Deep-Sea Marine Debris: North Atlantic Exploration,” was presented before NOAA staff at the end of the semester and greeted with an enthusiastic reception.
“The students really met the challenge head on,” said Sarah Groves, a data analyst supporting NOAA Ocean Exploration’s Science & Technology Division. “Even seemingly small differences such as calling an aluminum can a “soda can,” “can,” or “Coke can” can create unnecessary challenges when trying to create a systematic and reusable classification scheme. Their computer programming skills allowed them to implement methods that could be used by others—and I think they will be better data collectors in the future.”
Digging deeper into the data and analysis, students were able to map out the spatial distribution of marine debris and show a potential correlation between ports and shipping lanes and quantity of marine debris found.
The students’ final deliverables to NOAA, including visual displays and a cumulative report, will assist in providing a greater understanding of the marine environment and supporting future policy. Some members of the team will continue to work with NOAA, where their paper and findings will be revised and eventually peer reviewed and published. There are also plans for future capstone teams to use their findings as the basis for a policy-focused project to see how they can combat marine pollution.
“This capstone project was an invaluable experience, teaching us not only about marine debris but also about the importance of collaboration and precision in research,” said Harmon. “I’m proud that our findings will help inform future strategies to tackle this global issue.”
The ENSP team consisted of University of Maryland students Alyssa Chiascione, Aboli Dahiwadkar, Anna Harmon, Emily Harris, Alyssa Levin, Jonah Pereyra, Alex Peska, and Kate Poremski; led by faculty advisor Annette Spivy.
by Andrew Muir : Momentum Magazine Summer 2024
