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;[email protected]
• 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)
