We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Modeling land use impacts on spatial distribution of floating plastic litter in surface water of Southeast Asian archipelago
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers modeled how land use patterns affect the spatial distribution of floating plastic litter in surface waters of a Southeast Asian island archipelago, finding that population density and proximity to waterways drove litter density. The model helps explain how terrestrial human activities translate into offshore plastic pollution patterns in island environments.
Abstract Plastics are present in many ecosystems including floating in surface water of remote archipelago and this can lead to the increase in plastic litter density. Whereas the spatial model of plastic litter density related to the population inhabits isolated archipelago is still limited. And what are the underlying factors driving the presence of plastic litter is also poorly understood. This study is trying to find the answers of those questions. The study was implemented in Thousand Island archipelago located in North of Java Island, one of populated islands in Southeast Asia. The studied surface water covers an area of 10000 Ha and consists of 10 islands with 3 islands are occupied by settlements and the remaining islands are occupied by vegetation. This study has recorded 3 types of floating macro-litter from water that consist of PET, HDPE, and LDPE litter. The plastic litter was observed concentrated in the east sides of archipelago where the populated islands were located. The spatial models show LDPE litter was distributed in the vast areas in comparison to PET and HDPE litter. Beside land use variables, the model has confirmed that the population density was the main underlying factors contribute to the plastic litter density in Thousand Island archipelago. The model can be applied to estimate PET (AIC = −0.53060) and HDPE (AIC = 18.28828) litter density. While LDPE litter density was influenced by population (AIC = 22.60201) rather than population density factors.
More Papers Like This
Predicting the exposure of coastal species to plastic pollution in a complex island archipelago.
AI summary Read the abstract
This study used a fine-resolution hydrodynamic model to predict where plastic pollution accumulates along the Whitsunday Islands in Australia, finding that both local and distant sources contribute to exposure risks for coral reefs, mangroves, and sea turtle nesting sites. The results demonstrate that locally targeted management can meaningfully reduce plastic exposure to high-value coastal habitats.
In search for the sources of plastic marine litter that contaminates the Easter Island Ecoregion
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used oceanographic modeling to trace the sources of plastic marine litter contaminating the remote Easter Island Ecoregion, finding contributions from distant land-based sources carried by ocean currents. The study illustrates how plastic pollution can reach even the most isolated marine ecosystems far from population centers.
River freshwater effects on the ocean surface dynamics and plastic particles spreading in the Southeast Asian Seas: Insights from a high-resolution simulation using GloFAS
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers simulated ocean currents in Southeast Asian seas using river flow data, then tracked virtual plastic particles released from Indonesian rivers over nine years. About 56% of particles ended up stranded on regional coasts, while about 43% drifted toward the Indian Ocean, showing river flow patterns affect where floating debris travels.
Numerical Simulation of River-Borne Debris Trajectories and Dispersion Patterns in Lamong Bay, Indonesia
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists used computer modeling to track how plastic waste moves through Lamong Bay in Indonesia, finding that ocean currents and seasonal wind patterns push floating plastic debris toward river mouths and different parts of the bay depending on the time of year. This matters because that plastic breaks down into microplastics that can enter the food chain through fish and shellfish harvested from these waters, and this kind of pollution-tracking research helps identify where cleanup efforts would have the biggest impact.
The Movement of Plastic Marine Debris in Indonesian Seas using A Trajectory Model
AI summary Read the abstract
This Indonesian study used a Lagrangian trajectory model to simulate the transport of plastic marine debris in Indonesian waters, driven by ocean current data. The modeling revealed characteristic movement patterns of floating plastic waste within the Indonesian archipelago and toward surrounding ocean regions.
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.