We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
The Surfing for Science citizen science project: 5 years monitoring floating microplastics in the nearshore
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reported five years of data from the 'Surfing for Science' citizen science project monitoring floating microplastics in the nearshore waters of northern and northeastern Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, with participants towing specially designed manta trawls from paddleboards and kayaks. The project collected over 400 samples and characterised microplastics by size, shape, colour, and polymer type, sharing results via Instagram with mapped transect data.
Since 2020, the Surfing for Science project has provided data on the abundance and origin of floating microplastics in the nearshore of N and NE Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. Over the past five years, we have actively involved citizens and several social, environmental and sports associations to collect scientific samples during 1 year by towing a newly designed manta trawl from paddle surf boards, kayaks, etc. The tracks are being recorded using a smart-phone built-in GPS and uploaded. Samples are sent to the laboratory at the University of Barcelona, where microplastic extraction, quantification (number of microplastics m-2 and weight of plastic m-2), and characterization (size, shape, colour, polymer) is being performed. Microplastics are scanned and the image processed and uploaded to the Instagram social network account accompanied by the code of the sample, the map of the transect performed, and the association involved. To date, we have collected more than 400 samples in nearly 30 locations, including a 5 years' time series in one of the most visited and well-known beach in the city of Barcelona, totaling ¿100,000 plastics. During the last years we have overcome several challenges such as the high amounts of items in the samples or how to share results with citizens. We have developed new protocols for semi-automatic counting and particle categorization, automatic file management, data processing, color determination and microplastic category classification. We utilize Instagram as a channel to share scientific data and we produced t-shirts featuring results, turning individuals that wear these t-shirts into "walking disseminators" and involving citizens scientists in sharing results, and we have developed educational resources. We continue to strive for the best communication and feedback to all citizens to maximize the dissemination of the results and to serve as a resource for the administration, consumers, producers and policymakers. Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/559616/document
More Papers Like This
The Surfing for Science citizen science project: 5 years monitoring floating microplastics in the nearshore
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reported five years of citizen science microplastic monitoring data from the Surfing for Science project, in which trained surfers and paddlers towed specially designed manta trawls in nearshore waters along the northern and northeastern Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands to track floating microplastic abundance and origin.
Three years of the disruptive citizen science project Surfing for Science: impact, lessons learned, and new horizons
AI summary Read the abstract
This paper describes three years of the Surfing for Science citizen science project, in which surfers, kayakers, and paddleboarders along the NW Mediterranean coast collected near-shore microplastic samples using low-cost manta trawls. The project successfully gathered spatially extensive data on surface plastic abundance while simultaneously raising environmental awareness among participants.
Paddle surfing for science on microplastic pollution: a successful citizen science initiative
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used paddle surfers as citizen scientists to collect microplastic samples from near-shore coastal waters in the Mediterranean Sea, filling a gap in data from areas close to the coastline. The study demonstrates how citizen science can expand microplastic monitoring to locations that are difficult to access with conventional research vessels.
Floating microplastic loads in the nearshore revealed through citizen science
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used citizen science manta trawl deployments across 124 transects in the NW Mediterranean to characterize floating microplastic loads in nearshore coastal waters, finding substantial plastic pollution concentrated close to shore where emissions are highest.
Testing citizen science as a tool for monitoring surface water microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested citizen science as a monitoring method for surface water microplastics in the Baltic Sea using a custom manta trawl aboard a sailing vessel, sampling at seven locations and finding microplastic concentrations from 0.45 to 1.98 MP/m², and evaluated the viability of integrating citizen science into large-scale MP monitoring programs.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.