Marine Litter on the Coast of the Algarve: Main Sources and Distribution Using a Modeling Approach

Abstract

The accumulation of floating marine litter poses a serious threat to the global environment and the economy all over the world, particularly of coastal municipalities that rely on tourism and recreational activities. Data of marine litter is thus crucial, but is usually limited, and can be complemented with modelling results. In this study, the operational modelling system of Algarve (SOMA) was combined with a Lagrangian particle-tracking model and blended with scarce litter monitoring data, to provide first insights into the distribution and accumulation of floating marine litter on the Algarve coast. Different meteo-oceanographic conditions, sources regions and wind drift behaviors were considered. Field data and model results show a considerable concentration of marine litter along the beaches and coastal regions. The model also suggests that oceanographic conditions and wind drift have a great influence on the transport and accumulation rate of the floating marine litter on the coast, with the highest rates of accumulation during the winter and the counter current period, concentrated mostly on the south-western coast of the Algarve.

Marine Litter Stormy Wash-Outs: Developing the Neural Network to Predict Them

“…A large amount of anthropogenic litter accumulates in marine coastal waters [8]. According to the latest (model) data, about 70% of the mass of plastic marine litter is located in coastal zones, and it is suggested that most of it will inevitably end up on beaches [9]. Observations show that marine litter is carried by currents and waves [10] and, under certain conditions, it is massively washed out to the shore in compact spots, together with seaweed e.g., [11].…”

“…From the perspective of beach cleaning management, it would be much more efficient to collect debris at certain time periods and from naturally concentrated spots rather than to regularly monitor hundreds of kilometers of shoreline. To effectively rid a marine environment of anthropogenic litter, one should collect larger litter items from coastal underwater slopes, where litter is expected to accumulate [9]. Both regular beach monitoring and the cleaning of underwater slopes are expensive and would benefit a great deal from organized debris collection and its removal from concentrated spots of stormy wash-outs.…”

“…Pollutants 2021, 1, FOR PEER REVIEW environment of anthropogenic litter, one should collect larger litter items from coasta derwater slopes, where litter is expected to accumulate [9]. Both regular beach monit and the cleaning of underwater slopes are expensive and would benefit a great deal organized debris collection and its removal from concentrated spots of stormy wash-However, environmental conditions in sea coastal zones during storms are extre complicated and variable, and neither the location nor the time of massive was events are known in advance.…”

UAV Approach for Detecting Plastic Marine Debris on the Beach: A Case Study in the Po River Delta (Italy)

“…Spatial distribution patterns of litter in sandy littorals have thus been investigated [23,24], finding that differences are present, with embryo dune and mobile dune habitats showing the highest frequency of litter [25]. Plastic AMD follows these distribution patterns; modeling approaches can help to predict both the distribution [26] and marine litter storm wash-outs [27].…”

Marine Litter

“…A further contribution to the knowledge of the diffusion of marine litter and a focus on the dynamics of diffusion and transport was provided by a research article that combined modeling and field data on floating litter on the Algarve coast [8]. The results showed a considerable concentration of marine litter along the beaches and coastal regions; the model also suggested that oceanographic conditions and wind drift have a great influence on the transport and accumulation rate of the floating marine litter on the coast.…”