We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Investigating the Backscatter of Marine Plastic Litter Using a C- and X-Band Ground Radar, during a Measurement Campaign in Deltares
Summary
Researchers investigated C-band and X-band ground radar backscatter from marine plastic litter, contributing new data on the remote sensing capabilities for detecting floating plastic debris in marine environments.
In recent years, marine plastic pollution has seen increased coverage in the public interest and research due to a greater understanding of the scale and impact of plastic pollution within the marine environment. Considering the hazard that plastic waste poses on the environment, marine life, and on humans, remote-sensing techniques could provide timely information on their detection and dynamics. The remote sensing of marine plastic is a relatively new field and research into the capabilities of radar for detecting and monitoring marine plastic pollution is generally limited, with several interactions and mechanisms being largely unknown. Here, we exploit the use of a C- and X-band radar to understand the capabilities of monitoring marine plastics. Our results show that backscattering differences in the C- and X-band between the reference water (called here as “clean”) and the test water filled with plastic can be detected in some conditions (based on statistical analysis). Overall, the results indicate that the X-band frequency performs significantly better than the C-band frequency, with X-band detecting significant differences in backscattering in 48/68 test cases compared with C-band detecting differences in 20/67 test cases. We also find that the difference in backscattering is dependent on the size and shape of the plastic object, as well as the wave conditions which the plastic is moving on. This study provides new insights on the radar capabilities for detecting marine plastic litter and new information which can be used in the planning of future missions and studies on the remote sensing of marine plastic pollution.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Use of X-Band Radars to Monitor Small Garbage Islands
Researchers tested whether X-band marine radar systems can detect and track floating clusters of plastic debris at sea. Controlled experiments showed the technology can identify small garbage islands, opening a new tool for monitoring ocean plastic pollution.
Toward the Detection and Imaging of Ocean Microplastics With a Spaceborne Radar
Researchers assessed the feasibility of detecting ocean microplastics using spaceborne synthetic aperture radar, finding that radar signatures of microplastic-concentrated surface films may be detectable under certain wind and sea-state conditions.
Monitoring of Plastic Islands in River Environment Using Sentinel-1 SAR Data
Researchers developed a method using Sentinel-1 SAR satellite data to detect and monitor plastic islands in river environments, demonstrating the potential of radar remote sensing to track plastic debris accumulation following major rain events.
Emerging Technologies for Remote Sensing of Floating and Submerged Plastic Litter
This review evaluates emerging remote sensing technologies for detecting floating and submerged plastic litter in marine environments, including LiDAR, thermal infrared, radar, and multi-angle polarimetry. Researchers found that no single technology can detect all types of marine plastic under all conditions, and that combining multiple sensing approaches offers the best results. The study proposes a common vocabulary across disciplines and calls for more research on how different plastics interact with detection signals.
Detecting Microplastics Pollution in World Oceans Using Sar Remote Sensing
This study explored whether satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging could detect ocean plastic pollution from space, finding that plastic-covered water patches have distinct radar signatures. Remote sensing from satellites could dramatically expand monitoring coverage for ocean microplastic accumulation zones.