ORCID Profile
0000-0002-1785-1042
Current Organisation
University of Western Australia
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Composite and Hybrid Materials | Textile Technology | Functional Materials | Materials Engineering
Natural Fibres, Yarns and Fabrics | Expanding Knowledge in Engineering | Environmentally Sustainable Manufacturing not elsewhere classified |
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 11-2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-04-2019
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 25-09-2018
Abstract: Here, we present a proof-of-concept on remote sensing of ocean plastics using airborne shortwave infrared (SWIR) imagery. We captured red, green, and blue (RGB) and hyperspectral SWIR imagery with equipment mounted on a C-130 aircraft surveying the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" at a height of 400 m and a speed of 140 knots. We recorded the position, size, color, and type (container, float, ghost net, rope, and unknown) of every plastic piece identified in the RGB mosaics. We then selected the top 30 largest items within each of our plastic type categories (0.6-6.8 m in length) to investigate SWIR spectral information obtained with a SASI-600 imager (950-2450 nm). Our analyses revealed unique SWIR spectral features common to plastics. The SWIR spectra obtained ( N = 118 items) were quite similar both in magnitude and shape. Nonetheless, some spectral variability was observed, likely influenced by differences in the object optical properties, the level of water submersion, and an intervening atmosphere. Our simulations confirmed that the ∼1215 and ∼1732 nm absorption features have potential applications in detecting ocean plastics from spectral information. We explored the potential of SWIR remote sensing technology for detecting and quantifying ocean plastics, thus provide relevant information to those developing better monitoring solutions for ocean plastic pollution.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 21-12-2017
Abstract: Here we report concentrations of pollutants in floating plastics from the North Pacific accumulation zone (NPAC). We compared chemical concentrations in plastics of different types and sizes, assessed ocean plastic potential risks using sediment quality criteria, and discussed the implications of our findings for bioaccumulation. Our results suggest that at least a fraction of the NPAC plastics is not in equilibrium with the surrounding seawater. For instance, "hard plastic" s les had significantly higher PBDE concentrations than "nets and ropes" s les, and 29% of them had PBDE composition similar to a widely used flame-retardant mixture. Our findings indicate that NPAC plastics may pose a chemical risk to organisms as 84% of the s les had at least one chemical exceeding sediment threshold effect levels. Furthermore, our surface trawls collected more plastic than biomass (180 times on average), indicating that some NPAC organisms feeding upon floating particles may have plastic as a major component of their diets. If gradients for pollutant transfer from NPAC plastic to predators exist (as indicated by our fugacity ratio calculations), plastics may play a role in transferring chemicals to certain marine organisms.
Publisher: Inter-Research Science Center
Date: 03-09-2008
DOI: 10.3354/ESR00113
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 13-08-2013
Publisher: Copernicus GmbH
Date: 26-02-2015
Abstract: Abstract. Millimetre-sized plastics are numerically abundant and widespread across the world's ocean surface. These buoyant macroscopic particles can be mixed within the upper water column by turbulent transport. Models indicate that the largest decrease in their concentration occurs within the first few metres of water, where in situ observations are very scarce. In order to investigate the depth profile and physical properties of buoyant plastic debris, we used a new type of multi-level trawl at 12 sites within the North Atlantic subtropical gyre to s le from the air–seawater interface to a depth of 5 m, at 0.5 m intervals. Our results show that plastic concentrations drop exponentially with water depth, and decay rates decrease with increasing Beaufort number. Furthermore, smaller pieces presented lower rise velocities and were more susceptible to vertical transport. This resulted in higher depth decays of plastic mass concentration (milligrams m−3) than numerical concentration (pieces m−3). Further multi-level s ling of plastics will improve our ability to predict at-sea plastic load, size distribution, drifting pattern, and impact on marine species and habitats.
Publisher: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Date: 19-06-2016
Abstract: The impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems and global economy has been drawing public concern since the end of the 20th century. To mitigate this issue, The Ocean Cleanup (TOC) Foundation is developing technologies to extract, prevent, and intercept plastic debris from coastal and oceanic environments. The core technology being optimized is the use of floating booms placed perpendicular to the main ocean plastic flow so it can concentrate plastic debris to a point where it can be extracted, shipped and processed in a cost-effective manner. In order to optimize the system’s field efficiency (i.e. mass of ocean plastic captured per length of floating boom), a multi-scale approach has been elaborated, where temporal and spatial scales span over several orders of magnitude. Here we introduce this general multi-scale method alongside its assumptions and multi-scale models. We then describe two application ex les, the first corresponding to our coastal pilot in the Japanese island of Tsushima and the second related to our main cleanup target area: the so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch, situated between Hawaii and the US west coast.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-10-2016
DOI: 10.1038/SREP33882
Abstract: Most studies on buoyant microplastics in the marine environment rely on sea surface s ling. Consequently, microplastic amounts can be underestimated, as turbulence leads to vertical mixing. Models that correct for vertical mixing are based on limited data. In this study we report measurements of the depth profile of buoyant microplastics in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre, from 0 to 5 m depth. Microplastics were separated into size classes (0.5–1.5 and 1.5–5.0 mm) and types (‘fragments’ and ‘lines’) and associated with a sea state. Microplastic concentrations decreased exponentially with depth, with both sea state and particle properties affecting the steepness of the decrease. Concentrations approached zero within 5 m depth, indicating that most buoyant microplastics are present on or near the surface. Plastic rise velocities were also measured and were found to differ significantly for different sizes and shapes. Our results suggest that (1) surface s lers such as manta trawls underestimate total buoyant microplastic amounts by a factor of 1.04–30.0 and (2) estimations of depth-integrated buoyant plastic concentrations should be done across different particle sizes and types. Our findings can assist with improving buoyant ocean plastic vertical mixing models, mass balance exercises, impact assessments and mitigation strategies.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-03-2018
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-018-22939-W
Abstract: Ocean plastic can persist in sea surface waters, eventually accumulating in remote areas of the world’s oceans. Here we characterise and quantify a major ocean plastic accumulation zone formed in subtropical waters between California and Hawaii: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP). Our model, calibrated with data from multi-vessel and aircraft surveys, predicted at least 79 (45–129) thousand tonnes of ocean plastic are floating inside an area of 1.6 million km 2 a figure four to sixteen times higher than previously reported. We explain this difference through the use of more robust methods to quantify larger debris. Over three-quarters of the GPGP mass was carried by debris larger than 5 cm and at least 46% was comprised of fishing nets. Microplastics accounted for 8% of the total mass but 94% of the estimated 1.8 (1.1–3.6) trillion pieces floating in the area. Plastic collected during our study has specific characteristics such as small surface-to-volume ratio, indicating that only certain types of debris have the capacity to persist and accumulate at the surface of the GPGP. Finally, our results suggest that ocean plastic pollution within the GPGP is increasing exponentially and at a faster rate than in surrounding waters.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 18-02-2014
Publisher: IEEE
Date: 06-2017
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 27-11-2013
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 05-2016
DOI: 10.1098/RSOS.160142
Abstract: We examined the effect of artificial light on the near shore trajectories of turtle hatchlings dispersing from natal beaches. Green turtle ( Chelonia mydas ) hatchlings were tagged with miniature acoustic transmitters and their movements tracked within an underwater array of 36 acoustic receivers placed in the near shore zone. A total of 40 hatchlings were tracked, 20 of which were subjected to artificial light during their transit of the array. At the same time, we measured current speed and direction, which were highly variable within and between experimental nights and treatments. Artificial lighting affected hatchling behaviour, with 88% of in idual trajectories oriented towards the light and spending, on average, 23% more time in the 2.25 ha tracking array (19.5 ± 5 min) than under ambient light conditions (15.8 ± 5 min). Current speed had little to no effect on the bearing (angular direction) of the hatchling tracks when artificial light was present, but under ambient conditions it influenced the bearing of the tracks when current direction was offshore and above speeds of approximately 32.5 cm s −1 . This is the first experimental evidence that wild turtle hatchlings are attracted to artificial light after entering the ocean, a behaviour that is likely to subject them to greater risk of predation. The experimental protocol described in this study can be used to assess the effect of anthropogenic (light pollution, noise, etc.) and natural (wave action, current, wind, moonlight) influences on the in-water movements of sea turtle hatchlings during the early phase of dispersal.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 22-09-2017
Publisher: PeerJ
Date: 13-02-2014
DOI: 10.7717/PEERJ.255
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2013
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 21-10-2019
DOI: 10.3390/RS11202443
Abstract: Sustained observations are required to determine the marine plastic debris mass balance and to support effective policy for planning remedial action. However, observations currently remain scarce at the global scale. A satellite remote sensing system could make a substantial contribution to tackling this problem. Here, we make initial steps towards the potential design of such a remote sensing system by: (1) identifying the properties of marine plastic debris amenable to remote sensing methods and (2) highlighting the oceanic processes relevant to scientific questions about marine plastic debris. Remote sensing approaches are reviewed and matched to the optical properties of marine plastic debris and the relevant spatio-temporal scales of observation to identify challenges and opportunities in the field. Finally, steps needed to develop marine plastic debris detection by remote sensing platforms are proposed in terms of fundamental science as well as linkages to ongoing planning for satellite systems with similar observation requirements.
Publisher: Inter-Research Science Center
Date: 23-02-2018
DOI: 10.3354/MEPS12483
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 25-09-2019
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 16-04-2021
DOI: 10.3389/FMARS.2021.613399
Abstract: Millions of tons of buoyant plastic materials enter oceans annually, the majority originating from terrestrial sources and transported to oceans where oceanographic processes disperse or accumulate them. Some of these materials beach while others accumulate in convergent zones in coastal seas and the open ocean. Although accumulations associated with subtropical gyres, for ex le, the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” (GPGP) are well-known, coastal accumulation zones have received less attention. Here we report quantities and characteristics of plastics accumulated in fronts encountered within the Ashmore Reef marine park (Pulau Pasir), northern Australia. These areas, as well as surrounding waters, were s led using Manta trawls, drone, and snorkel surveys conducted in October 2018. With mean plastic concentrations of 523,146 pieces km −2 for plastics & 500 micron these hotpots contained plastic concentrations an order of magnitude higher than surrounding waters (16,561 pieces km −2 ) and comparable to the largest known accumulation zone: the GPGP. Furthermore, the mean mass within hotspots was 5,161 g km –2 vs. 9 g km –2 in surrounding waters. Therefore, we classify the features described in this study as types of “Coastal Garbage Patches” (CGPs). Importantly, the coastal fronts accumulating plastics in CGPs are key habitats for many marine species. Biomass outnumbered plastics by weight, with a ratio of 0.521 in CGPs and 0.016 in surrounding waters vs. 287.7 recorded in the GPGP. Polymer types found between the CGPs and GPGP were similar, but plastic films vastly dominated in the CGPs, whilst they were amongst the rarest types found in the GPGP. This study demonstrates the existence of CGPs coinciding with high priority conservation zones in coastal waters and highlights a need for further research into these environments.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 22-07-2020
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 03-12-2014
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 10-12-2014
Publisher: Inter-Research Science Center
Date: 13-02-2012
DOI: 10.3354/MEPS09477
Publisher: FapUNIFESP (SciELO)
Date: 2009
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2017
DOI: 10.1039/C6AY03119F
Abstract: Molecular characterization of ocean plastic biofilms can shed light on the ecological implications of plastic pollution here we provide detailed protocols and compare different DNA extraction methods applied to marine microplastics.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-11-2014
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 18-06-2014
Start Date: 09-2022
End Date: 09-2027
Amount: $5,000,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded Activity