Japanese Tsunami Marine Debris

Overview and Updates

24 October 2012

Sherry Lippiatt, PhDCalifornia Regional Coordinator

NOAA Marine Debris Program

Tsunami debris off the coast of Yamada, Japan. US Navy Pacific fleet

• Establishedin2005

• MandatedbytheMarineDebrisResearch,Prevention,andReductionAct,Dec.2006

• Reauthorization:S.1119andH.R.1171

NOAAMarineDebrisProgram

• Vision: theglobaloceananditscoasts,users,andinhabitantsfreefromtheimpactsofmarinedebris

• How?Research∣Assessment∣Removal

Prevention∣Outreach&Education

NOAA Marine Debris ProgramNOAAMarineDebrisProgram

RegionalCoordination:EastandWestCoasts,GulfofMexico,GreatLakes,Alaska,PacificIslands

Event Overview

(KeichiNakane/AssociatedPress)

March11,2011

• 9.0magnitudeearthquake

• Tsunami:maxwaveheight130ft

• Inundated217miles2

• 15,871peopleconfirmeddead,2,778missing(asof10/17/12)

Eventoverview

Event OverviewDebrisaftermath

March13:DebrisofftheSendaicoast

• Debrisinitiallyformedpatches

• Mostdebrislikelysankrightaway

• NASA/NESDIScollaboratedonearlysatellitedetection

Debrisdispersed;satellitescouldnotdetectafterApril14,2011

(USNavy,March2011)

How do you find debris in the open Pacific? 

Challenges:Scopeofproblem

• UnprecedentedeventforU.S.

• Bigocean

• Noaccurateestimatesofdebristypesorvolume

• Debrissinks,weathers,andbreaksapart

• Debrisdisperses

• Forecastsdifficult

Challenges:MisinformationSpeculationanduncertainty

• Initialdebrisvolumereportsnotaccurate

• Radiationfears

• ReportsofamassivewaveofdebrisheadedtowardU.S.

• Assumptionthatalldebrisisfromthetsunami

(KTVAAlaska)

Callforat‐seasightingsFindingdebris:Observations

• Vesselsonthelook‐out

oNOAAfleets,fishingvessels,commercialfleets,UNOLS,recreationalyachtracers,WorldOceanCouncil

• Aerialandat‐seasightings:USCGenforcementmissions

• FAANoticestoAirmen

• MARADadvisories

August1,2011SpottedbyUSCGvessel

September22,2011SpottedbytheRussianvessel,

STSPallada

• Callfor“significant”marinedebrissightings;reporttoDisasterDebris@noaa.gov

• 1,380officialreports,14confirmed

• Emailaddressusedto:o Logreportedsightingso Mapsightingso Aidinformationexchange

• Statehotlineso Oregon:211;WA:1‐855‐WACOAST

Findingdebris:Datagathering

Publicreportingemailaddress

DisasterDebris isNOTaresponsesystem

SightingsandSatelliteDetection

Credit: HURL

Findingdebris:RemoteSensingSatelliteandUAS

• NGA,DODassistingwithhigh‐resolutionsatellites

• Requesteddataforroughly400,000km2

• Newtechnologies:UAStestingoffthecoastofOahu

• Continuedeffortstoimprovedetection

• Targetedareasforobservationbasedonsightings,models

Oceancurrents Winds

• Combinationofsailareaanddrag• Low =slow(e.g.,wood,nets)• Medium =moderate(e.g.,fishingvessel)• High =fast(e.g.,unoccupiedinflatableliferaft,Styrofoam)

+Characteristicsofdebrisaffecthowitmoveswithoceancurrentsandwinds.

Findingdebris:GNOMEModel

Findingdebris:GNOMEModel

Findingdebris:GNOMEModel GNOMEResults:• Higherwindage particlesapproachedwestcoastofNorthAmericainfall/winter2011/2012

• HighandmediumwindageparticlescontinuedtocomeashoreinAK,WA,OR,NorCal intospring/earlysummer2012

• Summerpatternmovesparticlessouthandoffshore

• Lowerwindage particlesinareanorthofHI

FutureOutlook:• Anticipatethatinlatefall/winter,seasonalvariationsinwindsandcurrentswillbringadditionaldebrison‐shoreinWestCoastandAK

• Intermittentandscattered

Collaboration

• Interagency:o Numerousprogramsandauthoritieso ResponsecoordinatedbyNOAAo IMDCC(chairedbyNOAA)

EPA,USCG,FWS,NPS,etc. USCG/NOAAcollaborationon

sightings• International:

o JapanesegovernmentandEmbassyofJapanengagedwithNOAAandStateDepartment

o Canadiangovernment• Biweeklymeetings

Typical debris: N. Pacific

Typical debris: Alaska(CBC)

On‐goingchallenges

• At‐seadetectionisdifficult

• Newchallenges:invasivespecies

• Debrisremoval

• Gettingthemessageout

• What’scomingnext? (OregonDept.FishandWildlife)

Questions?Sherry.Lippiatt@noaa.gov