Satellite radar technology can detect ocean plastic accumulations

Researchers from the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), CNR-ISMAR, and Sapienza Università di Roma have demonstrated that Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data can identify plastic accumulations on the ocean surface. The study, published in the journal Remote Sensing of Environment, was conducted as part of the Space It Up! program funded by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the Ministry of University and Research.

To test the technology, researchers conducted experiments in Tuscany’s Lago di Massaciuccoli and the Gulf of La Spezia using an artificial plastic island designed to mimic real-world debris. Using data from COSMO-SkyMed and ICEYE satellites, the team found that plastic accumulations are distinguishable from the surrounding water because they modify surface roughness, which increases the intensity of the radar signal.

Unlike traditional optical sensors, SAR technology allows for continuous monitoring regardless of nighttime conditions or cloud cover, offering a significant advancement for tracking marine pollution.