Modeling the Exposure of the Macaronesia Islands (NE Atlantic) to Marine Plastic Pollution

• DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2021.653502
• Publication Date: 2021-04-30T06:38:24Z
• Authors: Cláudio Cardoso; Rui M. A. Caldeira
• Keywords: Drifter; Plastic pollution; Archipelago; Cape verde

The constant increase of marine plastic pollution poses an unprecedented risk to oceanic islands, which become increasingly exposed a hazard they have very little control. Located in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, Macaronesia is comprised by Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands, and Cabo Verde. Although past studies suggest that most items collected on these islands are from offshore regions, their actual sources remain unclear present date. As such, we focus characterization potential pathways particles reaching archipelagos. This achieved combining modeled datasets for ocean currents, winds waves with Lagrangian tool used track virtual released around archipelagos 10-year period, making distinction between surface submerged particles. Global drifter trajectories also assessed, selecting those intercept Our results demonstrate North subtropical gyre conspicuous feature trajectories. Gulf Stream acts as main pathway all at regional scale, though less significance Surface connected shorter timescale than mixed particles, mainly because wind. Intercepting high-windage particle dominant center gyre, demonstrating originating “garbage patch” likely if considerably Regarding connectivity sources, significantly areas intensive fishing activity, located (Azores), international waters off Portuguese coast (Madeira Islands) along Northwestern African (Cabo Verde). east coasts Central America land-based whereas source how vulnerable Macaronesian pollution, highlighting urgency cooperation mitigate exposure pollution.