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Gridded plastic litter fluxes from the Mediterranean coastal population obtained from satellite-derived nighttime lights
Summary
Scientists used satellite images of nighttime lights to map exactly where plastic pollution enters the Mediterranean Sea from coastal cities and towns, finding that Italy, Spain, and Egypt are the biggest contributors. This matters because pinpointing pollution "hotspots" helps target cleanup efforts and policy where they'll do the most good—ultimately reducing the plastic and microplastics that end up in seafood and drinking water supplies that people consume.
The sustainability of the blue economy is at risk due to the harmful effects of marine plastic pollution on aquatic ecosystems and coastal communities. Plastics release toxic chemicals into the environment, pollute coastlines, and harm fisheries, aquaculture, and shellfish beds. The practical implementation of the recently proposed Integrated Marine Debris Observing System requires comprehensive knowledge of pollution inputs, which vary in space, time, and intensity. Plastic emissions from coastal populations in the Mediterranean were identified as the primary source of plastic pollution in the basin. Data from the NASA/NOAA Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day/Night Band (DNB) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Platform (SNPP) were used as indicators for population-related plastic fluxes into the Mediterranean. An original algorithm distributed a predefined total annual plastic flux proportionally to nighttime lights along a coastal belt, also considering country-specific correction factors based on Human Development Indices. The average plastic fluxes for 2015–2024, measured in kg per day, were represented at a horizontal resolution of 15 arcseconds. Our analysis showed that plastic fluxes from coastal populations of Italy, Spain, and Egypt mainly contributed to the Mediterranean Sea. To demonstrate the main algorithmic features, the spatial variability of fluxes along Sicily’s coastlines was examined closely. Comparison of our results with the mass budget components obtained independently along the Barcelona coastline showed good consistency. Following the international FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), the data is freely available and ready for use for modeling and source-specific observation planning. For the user’s convenience, two datasets were provided: one with and one without the country-specific correction. This allows for quick re-normalization of flux values when new information about the total annual fluxes or correction principles becomes available. Our datasets require caution when used, as they are not fully validated products but rather experimental. The reported methodology is applicable to any area and allows further implementation related to advances in the representation of plastic sources.