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Plastics and other artificial materials pose new risks to the health of the ocean. Anthropogenic debris travels across large distances and is ubiquitous in the water and on shorelines, yet, observations of its sources, composition, pathways, and distributions in the ocean are very sparse and inaccurate. Total amounts of plastics and other man-made debris in the ocean and on the shore, temporal trends in these amounts under exponentially increasing production, as well as degradation processes, vertical fluxes, and time scales are largely unknown. Present ocean circulation models are not able to accurately simulate drift of debris because of its complex hydrodynamics. In this paper we discuss the structure of the future integrated marine debris observing system (IMDOS) that is required to provide long-term monitoring of the state of this anthropogenic pollution and support operational activities to mitigate impacts on the ecosystem and on the safety of maritime activity. The proposed observing system integrates remote sensing and in situ observations. Also, models are used to optimize the design of the system and, in turn, they will be gradually improved using the products of the system. Remote sensing technologies will provide spatially coherent coverage and consistent surveying time series at local to global scale. Optical sensors, including high-resolution imaging, multi- and hyperspectral, fluorescence, and Raman technologies, as well as SAR will be used to measure different types of debris. They will be implemented in a variety of platforms, from hand-held tools to ship-, buoy-, aircraft-, and satellite-based sensors. A network of in situ observations, including reports from volunteers, citizen scientists and ships of opportunity, will be developed to provide data for calibration/validation of remote sensors and to monitor the spread of plastic pollution and other marine debris. IMDOS will interact with other observing systems monitoring physical, chemical, and biological processes in the ocean and on shorelines as well as the state of the ecosystem, maritime activities and safety, drift of sea ice, etc. The synthesized data will support innovative multi-disciplinary research and serve a diverse community of users.

Dissertação de Mestrado, Estudos Integrado dos Oceanos, 3 de Fevereiro de 2014, Universidade dos Açores. Os resíduos marinhos constituem parte de um problema ambiental global, causador de impactes não apenas nos oceanos, mas também nas áreas costeiras. Deste modo, torna-se possível visualizar resíduos mesmo em ilhas mais remotas, como é o caso dos Açores. De forma a avaliar dados que permitam um acesso rápido à quantidade de resíduos e às suas flutuações ao longo do tempo e do local, um total de 30 transectos foram amostrados em duas praias distintas (Conceição e Porto Pim), num período de sete meses (Novembro a Maio). Itens entre 2 a 30 cm foram organizados em 7 categorias distintas, mostrando que a sua densidade variou desde 0 a 1,940 itens/m2, e que o plástico representou o tipo de resíduos arrojados com maior predominância (96% em Porto Pim e 82% na Conceição). No mês de Fevereiro, as condições prevalecentes de vento e ondulação dos quadrantes WSW e W, respectivamente, parecem ter providenciado as condições ideais para atingir a maior abundância de resíduos em geral, em ambas as praias (MConceição = 1.973 ± 0.103; MPorto Pim = 2.726 ± 0.103). Foi possível validar que o local e a altura do ano, durante a monitorização, influenciaram a presença de determinadas categorias de resíduos, fazendo sugerir uma possível relação entre factores físicos e ambientais na abundância dos mesmos. Este estudo pioneiro poderá continuar a contribuir na obtenção de dados com informação crucial para aumentar o conhecimento acerca da dinâmica e flutuações de resíduos no Norte do Oceano Atlântico, o que permitirá comparações com estudos semelhantes, realizados em locais distintos. Os resultados obtidos também sugerem que existe uma grande necessidade de sensibilizar e consciencializar os cidadãos locais, assim como a população em geral, de modo a alterar a práticas e hábitos enraizados na vida quotidiana. ABSTRACT: Marine debris are part of a global environmental issue that causes effects not only in the world’s oceans, but also in coastal areas. Therefore, it is possible to visualize waste even at the most remoteness islands, as in the case of the Azores. In order to evaluate data that allows access to loads of debris and their possible fluctuations along time and location, a total of 30 transects at two different beaches (Conceição and Porto Pim) was sampled during seven months (November to May). Items within 2 to 30 cm, were organized in 7 different categories, showing that densities of debris varied from 0 to 1.940 items/m2, and that plastic was the most predominant type of beached waste (96% at Porto Pim and 82% at Conceição). During February, prevailing wind and swell conditions from WSW and W, respectively, seem to have provided ideal conditions to achieve the highest abundance of debris in general at both beaches (MConceição = 1.973 ± 0.103; MPorto Pim = 2.726 ± 0.103). It was possible to validate that location and time of the year, while monitoring, influenced the presence of certain categories of debris, subjecting a relation between physical and environmental factors in their abundance. This pioneer study will continue to supply the type of data that is crucial for further understanding of debris dynamics and fluctuations in the North Atlantic Ocean, enabling comparisons to similar researches at different sites. Obtained results also suggest that there is a huge need to raise awareness and consciousness to local citizens and population in general, due to unthoughtful habits that are still practiced in everyday life.