Processes controlling the dispersion and beaching of floating marine debris in the Barcelona coastal region
IntroductionCoastal 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 var...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1534678/full |
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| author | Ivan Hernandez Leidy M. Castro-Rosero Leidy M. Castro-Rosero Manuel Espino Jose M. Alsina Jose M. Alsina |
| author_facet | Ivan Hernandez Leidy M. Castro-Rosero Leidy M. Castro-Rosero Manuel Espino Jose M. Alsina Jose M. Alsina |
| author_sort | Ivan Hernandez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionCoastal 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.MethodA 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.ResultsAreas 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.DiscussionThe 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-222fdfc0b8ff4acea9c4c8d7fe44f474 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-222fdfc0b8ff4acea9c4c8d7fe44f4742025-01-27T08:27:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-01-011110.3389/fmars.2024.15346781534678Processes controlling the dispersion and beaching of floating marine debris in the Barcelona coastal regionIvan Hernandez0Leidy M. Castro-Rosero1Leidy M. Castro-Rosero2Manuel Espino3Jose M. Alsina4Jose M. Alsina5Laboratori d’Enginyeria Marítima, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Catalunya, SpainLaboratori d’Enginyeria Marítima, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Catalunya, SpainFacultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, SpainLaboratori d’Enginyeria Marítima, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Catalunya, SpainLaboratori d’Enginyeria Marítima, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Catalunya, SpainDepartament d’Enginyeria Gràfica i de Disseny, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Catalunya, SpainIntroductionCoastal 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.MethodA 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.ResultsAreas 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.DiscussionThe 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.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1534678/fullmarine debrisplastic pollutionmarine litterdispersionbeachingLagrangian numerical modelling |
| spellingShingle | Ivan Hernandez Leidy M. Castro-Rosero Leidy M. Castro-Rosero Manuel Espino Jose M. Alsina Jose M. Alsina Processes controlling the dispersion and beaching of floating marine debris in the Barcelona coastal region Frontiers in Marine Science marine debris plastic pollution marine litter dispersion beaching Lagrangian numerical modelling |
| title | Processes controlling the dispersion and beaching of floating marine debris in the Barcelona coastal region |
| title_full | Processes controlling the dispersion and beaching of floating marine debris in the Barcelona coastal region |
| title_fullStr | Processes controlling the dispersion and beaching of floating marine debris in the Barcelona coastal region |
| title_full_unstemmed | Processes controlling the dispersion and beaching of floating marine debris in the Barcelona coastal region |
| title_short | Processes controlling the dispersion and beaching of floating marine debris in the Barcelona coastal region |
| title_sort | processes controlling the dispersion and beaching of floating marine debris in the barcelona coastal region |
| topic | marine debris plastic pollution marine litter dispersion beaching Lagrangian numerical modelling |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1534678/full |
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