Researching ocean plastics

Plastic in the ocean accumulates in so-called garbage patches. Our ocean plastic research is not only relevant to improve our cleanup operations, but it also contributes to the global understanding of the problem.

CONTINUOUS MONITORING OF THE GPGP

Between 2015 and 2018, we mapped the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) and painted the first global picture of it. We estimate that up to 100,000 metric tons of floating plastic has accumulated around 1.6 million square kilometers in this area.

As the only organization operating at scale in this region, we have a unique opportunity to enrich the global understanding of the GPGP–and optimize how we clean it up. In addition, continuous monitoring also offers data for policy-making and policy assessment.

Research helps us better understand where plastic pollution in the ocean comes from and plays a crucial role in helping us develop effective technology solutions.

NUMERICAL MODELING

Numerical modeling is essential for pinpointing the current location of plastic accumulation hotspots in the ocean. With this information, we can actively steer our ocean cleanup system toward areas of high concentration, making the cleanup more efficient.

Refining these models is an ongoing effort, as even incremental improvements to our models can substantially impact our cleanup efficiency.

Crew members looking at plastic hotspots for System 002
Mapping plastic hotspots with computational modelling helps us keep our cleanup as efficient and environmentally sound as possible

MAPPING OF OTHER GYRES

The GPGP is the largest accumulation of floating plastic in the ocean – but it’s not the only gyre where floating plastic accumulates. Currently, there is limited research on the

We aim to map these other gyres as we have for the GPGP, with expeditions across the North Atlantic, South Pacific and South Indian Oceans. Understanding these gyres and the varying dynamics of the accumulated plastic they contain is essential to developing technology solutions and strategies to clean the entire ocean.

Computational model of the five known garbage patches. From left: Indian Ocean gyre, North Pacific gyre (where the Great Pacific Garbage Patchis ), South Pacific gyre, North Atlantic gyre, South Atlantic gyre
Computational model of the five known garbage patches. From left: Indian Ocean gyre, North Pacific gyre (where the Great Pacific Garbage Patchis ), South Pacific gyre, North Atlantic gyre, South Atlantic gyre

Researching river plastics

Rivers are the main route through which mismanaged plastic waste is transported from land to the ocean. Our researchers map these rivers and identify leading sources of plastic pollution to build and refine computational river-to-ocean emission models.

OBSERVATIONAL DATA

Our research team conducts field sampling to measure the amount of plastic emissions from rivers to the ocean and lab experiments to understand how plastic behaves under different conditions. This information allows us to continuously improve our modeling methodology and obtain a more accurate global mapping of sources of plastics in the ocean.

To accurately predict plastic emissions from rivers, we have started several multi-year monitoring campaigns across three continents. This data not only helps us identify the best place to deploy our Interceptors – it also informs governments in taking upstream mitigation measures and raising awareness of environmental issues impacting local communities.

River plastic pollution sampling in Malaysia
River plastic pollution sampling in Malaysia

COMPUTATIONAL MODELING

To understand how plastic emissions make their way into the ocean, our research team develops numerical models that study the transport and emission of plastics from rivers. Our research has identified 1000 rivers that emit nearly 80% of the world’s river plastic into the ocean. By targeting these rivers, we can drastically reduce the influx of plastic into the ocean.

Our research team is further refining this model by improving input data, accounting for multiple source scenarios, different land use, topography and seasonal variations.

Map of 1000 polluting rivers
Our research has identified 1000 rivers, emitting nearly 80% of the world’s river plastic flowing into the ocean

Advanced plastic detection technology

Rapidly evolving technologies such as artificial intelligence and remote sensing technology allow us to automate data gathering on floating plastic accumulation. By allowing us to understand greater quantities of data, this technology accelerates our understanding of the problem and our development of solutions.

RIVER MONITORING SYSTEM

Our team places cameras on bridges as part of our River Monitoring System (RMS). These cameras capture images of plastic debris in rivers, with images used to train AI models to identify and categorize plastic pollution. Understanding how plastic emissions change due to geographical and seasonal variations lets us target cleanup efforts more efficiently. This monitoring also helps measure the effectiveness of preventive measures against plastic pollution.

River AI model in action
River AI model in action

AUTOMATIC DEBRIS IMAGING SYSTEM (ADIS)

Plastic in the global ocean is widely spread out, unevenly distributed, and constantly shifting: there may be dense levels of plastic in one area but not in another at any time. To succeed, our cleanup requires access to up-to-date information on where plastic is at any given moment.

Our innovative Automatic Debris Imaging System (ADIS) monitors and maps the distribution of plastic debris in the oceans, pioneering in the field of ocean plastic detection. AI-powered cameras mounted on seafaring vessels collect surface imagery and analyze big data in real-time.

Hyundai-Glovis became our first partner to implement ADIS on their vessels in 2023, and we are keen to welcome additional ship owners to collaborate in expanding our data coverage. For more information, contact us.

The ADIS (Automated Ocean Debris Imaging System) helps in monitoring and detecting plastic in the ocean

SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING

Ocean plastics are hard to detect, far away from land, and scattered over hundreds of thousands of square kilometers. River plastic emissions can also be difficult to quantify if rivers are inaccessible. Remote sensing of plastic litter has the potential to map hotspots of plastic pollution worldwide, helping us focus on the effective deployment of cleanup solutions.

Although satellite remote sensing for plastics in the open ocean isn’t feasible yet, The Ocean Cleanup contributes to the pioneering work in the broader research community through our own lab experiments and collaborations with academic partners. 

Scientists are working on a new way to find plastic hotspots: using hyperspectral satellites to detect 'plastic fingerprints' from space.

Become a citizen scientist

Join the largest cleanup in history by becoming a Citizen Scientist. You can help The Ocean Cleanup gather data on plastic in waterways around the world using our Ocean Cleanup Survey App. Data gathered are used to optimize our global cleanup strategy. All you need is a smartphone and a passion to work on this important environmental issue. Every data point counts!

Latest scientific publications

  • Transient Attracting Profiles in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

    December 2024, article in a peer reviewed Journal
    European Geosciences Union

    Luca Kunz, Alexa Griesel , Carsten Eden, Rodrigo Duran and Bruno Sainte-Rose

  • Seven years into the North Pacific garbage patch: legacy plastic fragments rising disproportionally faster than larger floating objects

    November, 2024, article in peer-reviewed journal
    Environmental Research Letters

    Laurent Lebreton, Robin de Vries, Yannick Pham, Helen Wolter, Marjolein van Vulpen, Peter Puskic, Bruno Sainte-Rose, Sarah-Jeanne Royer and Matthias Egger

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