Scientists use satellite data to track ocean microplastics

Scientists and researchers from the University of Michigan have developed an innovative method to use satellite data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to track the movement of tiny pieces of plastic in the ocean. The new technique relies on data from Nasa's Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System, a constellation of eight small satellites that measures wind speeds above Earth's oceans and provides information about the strength of hurricanes. Working backwards, the team at the University of Michigan looked for places where the ocean was smoother than expected given the wind speed, which they thought could indicate the presence of microplastics. The scientists found that microplastics tended to be present in smoother waters, demonstrating that CYGNSS data can be used as a tool to track ocean microplastic from space.