Speaker

Professor Erik van Sebille, Utrecht Universiy

Whose plastic is that? Combining ocean physics with Bayesian inference to track marine plastic pollution

Abstract

The world’s ocean currents can transport material like plastic over vast scales, connecting waste generated on one continent to impacts on another. Yet, it seems most plastic pollution found at any particular location is relatively local, often originating from within the same country. Effective policies to reduce the impact of plastic pollution require knowledge of whose plastic ends up where.

In this seminar, I will present some recent work on using a Bayesian framework to analyze the sources of plastics found on beaches around the world. The input to this analysis comes from Lagrangian ocean analysis simulations with the OceanParcels.org tool, which I will also showcase. I will discuss how we develop new parameterizations for subgrid-scale transport processes of floating plastic items; and compare these parameterizations to field and lab measurements.

About the Speaker

Erik van Sebille is professor of oceanography and public engagement at Utrecht University. He investigates how ocean currents move ‘stuff’ around. He is the lead developer of the open-source OceanParcels.org code for Lagrangian Ocean Analysis. He is co-author of the textbook Ocean Currents – Physical Drivers in a Changing World with Professor Robert Marsh. He led the European Research Council Starting Grant project “Tracking Of Plastics in Our Seas” and is now starting up a new project “Tracing Marine Macroplastics by Unraveling the Ocean’s Multiscale Transport Processes.” In parallel to his ongoing work in physical oceanography, he has recently started a new research team on how scientists can be effective and inclusive in their communication and engagement with society, specifically on the climate crisis.