Tracking Ocean Plastic Pollution using Satellite Technology
The European Space Agency is manufacturing satellites that identify discarded plastics such as water bottles, fishing nets, and grocery bags, all the while monitoring the concentration, movement, and origin of plastic debris across the world’s oceans. Until the development of such satellites, most of this debris has previously been found using alternative methods, such as towing underwater cameras that locate and take images of debris found deeper underwater, and even going as far as to swim through the debris. Scientists are working on Earth observation satellites that will track plastic debris in the ocean from space by searching for the plastic’s reflected light signature in the water.
