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From mid to high latitudes: marine litter research at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)

Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar-und Meeresforschung (Alfred-Wegener-Institut) 2013
Lars Gutow, Melanie Bergmann, Gunnar Gerdts, Martin G. J. Löder, Roland Krone, Angela Köhler, Margit Ludwig, Marina Schweikert

Summary

This presentation from the Alfred Wegener Institute reported that marine litter quantities on deep-sea transects doubled between 2002 and 2010, with about 60% of litter being plastics and 60% associated with fauna, suggesting rising ship traffic and Atlantic water mass transport as contributing sources. The long-term deep-sea litter data from AWI provide a rare historical record of how deep-sea plastic contamination has intensified over time.

• Litter quantities doubled between 2002 and 2010 → densities > Lisboa Canyon • ~60% of the litter was plastics • >60% of the litter was associated with fauna • Source: rising ship traffic in this remote region as a result of reduced sea ice cover and/or import of litter with Atlantic water masses? (responsible: melanie.bergmann@awi.de) Task Force „Students Against Marine Pollution: Litter Monitoring on the Beaches of Sylt“

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