{"id":12685,"date":"2024-12-20T18:22:47","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T18:22:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=12685"},"modified":"2025-03-24T13:35:15","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T13:35:15","slug":"first-of-its-kind-study-uses-remote-sensing-to-combat-plastic-pollution-in-rivers-and-lakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/first-of-its-kind-study-uses-remote-sensing-to-combat-plastic-pollution-in-rivers-and-lakes\/","title":{"rendered":"First-of-Its-Kind Study Uses Remote Sensing to Combat Plastic Pollution in Rivers and Lakes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">In a pioneering study, University of Minnesota researchers utilize remote sensing to tackle the pressing issue of plastic pollution in freshwater environments, providing a novel, cost-effective solution to a global problem.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A groundbreaking study from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities is poised to revolutionize the way plastic pollution in freshwater environments, such as rivers and lakes, is monitored and managed. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41597-024-03974-x\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Published<\/a> in the journal Nature, the research introduces the use of remote sensing technology to effectively track and potentially remove plastic debris from large bodies of fresh water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plastic pollution is a well-documented crisis impacting the world&#8217;s oceans, recognized by the United Nations Environment Programme as one of the foremost environmental challenges. Yet, this focus often overshadows the significant issue of plastic debris in rivers and lakes, which serve as conduits for ocean-bound waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The University of Minnesota researchers aimed to address this gap. Their innovative approach leverages remote sensing technology to authenticate and categorize plastic debris based on spectral reflectance properties \u2014 specific wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum \u2014 differentiating it from naturally occurring elements like seaweed, sediments, driftwood and water foams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe could use this technology to identify different types of plastics in the water simultaneously. This is key information that we need when employing other technology, like drones, to capture and remove plastic debris in natural environments,\u201d lead author Mohammadali Olyaei, a doctoral student in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering, said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/cse.umn.edu\/college\/news\/first-its-kind-study-uses-remote-sensing-monitor-plastic-debris-rivers-and-lakes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Conducted at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, the research utilized real conditions of the Mississippi River that runs through the facility. This allowed for a practical evaluation of the remote sensing system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team combined a spectroradiometer \u2014 a remote sensing platform \u2014 with a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera to monitor and identify various debris types through their unique spectral signatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf we can develop technology at the Mississippi headwaters, in a place like Minnesota, to catch plastic debris, we can protect the downstream states and the entire ocean from plastic pollution. As soon as these plastics begin to spread more and more, their control becomes more and more challenging,\u201d added corresponding author Ardeshir Ebtehaj, an associate professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:17px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"First-of-its-kind remote sensing to monitor plastic debris in rivers and lakes\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yaUmFwJwUAE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The potential implications of this research extend far beyond Minnesota. If adopted widely, such technology could create a formidable defense against the spread of plastic debris, protecting not only local waterways but also contributing significantly to global ocean conservation efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A groundbreaking study from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities is poised to revolutionize the way plastic pollution in freshwater environments, such as rivers and lakes, is monitored and managed. Published in the journal Nature, the research introduces the use of remote sensing technology to effectively track and potentially remove plastic debris from large bodies [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-climate-and-environment"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"A groundbreaking study from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities is poised to revolutionize the way plastic pollution in freshwater environments, such as rivers and lakes, is monitored and managed. Published in the journal Nature, the research introduces the use of remote sensing technology to effectively track and potentially remove plastic debris from large bodies&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12685"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12685\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12852,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12685\/revisions\/12852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}