We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Processes controlling the dispersion and beaching of floating marine debris in the Barcelona coastal region
AI summary Read the abstract
A Lagrangian simulation of floating marine debris in the Barcelona coastal region found that beaching likelihood was most influenced by coastal geometry and wave direction relative to shoreline orientation. River discharge contributed only about 6% of debris collected on monitored beaches, with areas near release points accumulating the highest particle loads.
Introduction Coastal areas are considered potential sinks for plastic in marine environments. Data from a Lagrangian numerical simulation at a coastal scale using high-resolution hydrodynamic information and observational data of river debris discharge were analysed to determine the environmental variables from meteorological forcing or coastline orientation contributing to particle beaching. Method A beaching likelihood parameter was developed to quantitatively measure the propensity for an area to receive or accumulate particles from a known outflow source. Statistical analyses of particle beaching were conducted to reveal possible relationships with hydrodynamic variables. A debris mass budget was calculated from the river release observational data used in the simulation. Results Areas close to the release points received the highest amounts of particles and also registered the highest beaching likelihood values. Significant wave height mildly affected particle beaching (Pearson’s r =0.36). Relative perpendicular wave directions promoted beaching in coastlines with lower azimuths (vertical orientation), whereas those with higher azimuths (horizontal orientation) were more affected by relative alongshore wave directions. The mass contribution from river discharge on beaches where cleanup data was available was 6.0% of the total debris collected. Discussion The beaching likelihood parameter revealed the influence of coastal geometry on particle deposition in an area. Comparisons with other studies regarding beaching amounts and particle residence times are challenging due to the scale difference. The complexity of the beaching process makes it difficult to establish relationships with hydrodynamic variables, although a clear association between the coastline orientation and wave direction was established. The debris mass contribution from the two rivers included in the simulation was two orders of magnitude lower than indicated in other studies for the area.
More Papers Like This
A probabilistic Lagrangian numerical model to assess the impact of floating marine litter on Barcelona city beaches
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a probabilistic Lagrangian model using Monte Carlo methods to assess floating marine litter impacts on Barcelona beaches, incorporating four terrestrial debris sources and the LOCATE coastal simulation framework adapted for nearshore transport. They identified wave height, source proximity, and coastline orientation as key determinants of beaching flux in a region with some of the highest marine litter concentrations in the Mediterranean.
A probabilistic Lagrangian numerical model to assess the impact of floating marine litter on Barcelona city beaches
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a probabilistic Lagrangian numerical model using the Monte Carlo method to assess the impact of floating marine litter on Barcelona beaches, combining observational data from four terrestrial debris sources with the LOCATE coastal transport model. They found that wave height, proximity to debris sources, and coastline orientation were the primary drivers of beaching intensity along the Barcelona coastline.
Plastic debris budget and fluxes along the Barcelona coastline
AI summary Read the abstract
A mass budget study of Barcelona's coastline estimated 6.0 × 10¹⁰ plastic items per year discharged into the sea, totaling 17 metric tonnes annually, with combined sewer overflow contributing the most and beaching affecting 98.4% of those particles on urban beaches. This quantification of plastic flux pathways underscores the urgent need for source-reduction measures and improved stormwater management in densely populated coastal cities.
Tracing marine litter sources along the Barcelona coastline: Insights from observations and numerical modelling
AI summary Read the abstract
This study quantified the marine litter budget along Barcelona's coastline using Lagrangian backtracking simulations informed by one year of beach and water sampling data, finding marine litter densities of 1.8×10⁹ items/km²/year in urban beach waters with over 55% originating from outside the study domain. Results linked marine litter sources to specific emission points including combined sewer overflows, marinas, and coastal structures, highlighting Barcelona as both a significant emitter and recipient of plastic debris due to regional hydrodynamic connectivity.
Tracking marine debris in Northwest Spain: assessing wind influence with a Lagrangian transport model
AI summary Read the abstract
Lagrangian particle tracking simulations in the Ría de Arousa estuary showed that low wind conditions concentrate river-sourced plastic particles near shore with longer residence times, while higher wind accelerates dispersal and reduces predictability of coastal deposition. Understanding wind-driven plastic transport dynamics is essential for accurately modeling how riverine plastics distribute into marine environments and ultimately fragment into microplastics.
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.