An Integrated PDA-GPS Protocol for Marine Debris and Oil Spill Cleanup, Mitigation and Decision-making

Description

The University of New Hampshire Environmental Research Group and the Coastal Response Research Center (NOAA/UNH partnership) have begun collaborative research on marine pollution because of the overlap that exists between collection of marine debris and oil spills on shorelines. Floating marine debris and oil spills are influenced by numerous variables including ocean currents, tidal patterns, and wind regimes, ultimately stranding pollution in collection zones. In spill situations, the signs of marine debris (floats, fishing gear and plastics) are signals for shoreline impact assessors to look for oil. The overall objective of this project is to produce an integrated protocol for assessing and monitoring pollution from marine debris, providing data for decision-making, and increasing the effectiveness of future remediation and mitigation techniques through the use of an integrated PDA-GPS system. Expected outcomes include, improved data collection and analysis, reduction of marine debris, public education, improved spill response strategies, a quantitative decision-making process, and technology transfer of the integrated protocol and PDA use for marine debris and spill response communities.

News

	Principal Investigators present at the NOAA National Marine Debris forum April, 2008. View the presentation (pdf) (available soon!)
	Researchers from CRRC and UNH are organized a short course on marine debris that was given at Safe Seas 2006. View the course abstract (pdf) here>>

Principal Investigators

Amy Merten, Ph.D.
Co-Director (NOAA)
Coastal Response Research Center
University of New Hampshire
Gregg Hall
Durham, NH 03824
603.862.3535
amy.merten@noaa.gov

Jenna R. Jambeck, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
Civil/Environmental Engineering
University of New Hampshire
Gregg Hall
Durham, NH 03824
603.862.4023
jenna.jambeck@unh.edu

Funding Agency

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Project Partner

Coastal Response Research Center