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An Integrated Observing System for Monitoring Marine Debris and Biodiversity
Summary
An integrated observing system combining sensors, vessels, and citizen science platforms for simultaneous monitoring of marine debris and biodiversity is proposed, addressing the shift from natural to primarily human-generated plastic debris in the ocean over the twentieth century.
Wood, pumice, drifting kelp, and other natural marine debris have long played important roles in marine ecosystems. Today, oceanic "litter" generated by human activities, notably plastics, constitutes the majority of marine debris and is mostly harmful to those ecosystems. In the twentieth century, plastic became a symbol of technological development and globalization of the world's economy.