Latest news with #MiquelCanals
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists issue dire warning after disturbing discovery made at the bottom of the ocean: 'Not a single inch of it is clean'
Littering is a pet peeve of many, and unfortunately, nowhere seems to be safe from this disgusting habit. Scientists have even found trash at the very bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. As Universitat de Barcelona shared, an international team of researchers found 167 items at the bottom of the Calypso Deep, the deepest point of the Mediterranean Sea that is around 3.2 miles below the water level. According to the report, 148 of the items were marine debris, while the other 19 are thought to be of human origin. The experts said this is one of the highest concentrations on record of trash found in the great depths of the sea. The researchers sent a manned submarine into the waters off the southwest coast of Greece, and images were taken and then studied by the team. Miquel Canals, a professor at the Department of Earth and Ocean Dynamics at the Universitat de Barcelona, said that among the items found were full bags of rubbish, with evidence that these were dropped by boats. In addition to being deplorable, inappropriate dumping of rubbish can have severe negative impacts on ecosystems — and that's especially true in oceans and seas. Creatures can get caught up in discarded fishing nets, ingest plastic waste, and even be buried by items that are large enough. What's more, depending on the type of debris dropped in the ocean, it could release toxins that can impact the health of marine animals. "Unfortunately, as far as the Mediterranean is concerned, it would not be wrong to say that 'not a single inch of it is clean,'" Canals said. Because Calypso Deep is set within the Hellenic Trench, it's an ideal location to trap waste that has been carried by ocean currents. Since humans have such limited access to this area, clean-up efforts are near impossible, so it's likely these items could remain in the area for decades and cause damage to the ecosystem all the while. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. First and foremost, we need to be careful about how we deal with waste materials. Understanding your recycling options means plastic, paper, and glass can be processed properly and even given a second life — and stop them from ending up in the sea. According to Our World in Data, "one to two million tonnes of plastic [around 1.1 to 2.2 million tons] enter our oceans yearly," so reducing our use of this material — especially single-use items — can make a real difference. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Independent
12-03-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Groundbreaking study finds huge amount of litter at deepest point in Mediterranean Sea
A groundbreaking study has found one of the highest concentrations of deep-sea litter ever detected at the deepest point of the Mediterranean Sea. Researchers discovered plastic, glass, metal and paper waste at the bottom of the Calypso Deep, a 5,112m depression in the Ionian Sea about 60km west of Greece's Peloponnese coast. Plastic accounted for nearly 90 per cent of the litter material, the study noted. The research, published in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin, emphasised the pressing need to implement global policies to cut marine waste and encourage changes in human consumption habits to protect the oceans. 'The litter abundance in the Calypso Deep, with 26,715 items per square kilometre, is among the highest ever recorded in a deep-sea environment,' the study stated. Researchers from the University of Barcelona said the debris was likely carried to the Calypso Deep by ocean currents and direct dumping by boats. 'Some light waste, such as plastics, comes from the coast, from where it escapes to the Calypso Deep. Some plastics, such as bags drift just above the bottom until they are partially or completely buried, or disintegrate into smaller fragments,' Miquel Canals, one of the authors of the study, explained. 'We have also found evidence of boats dumping bags full of rubbish.' Since the trench is a 'closed depression' with weak currents, it favours the accumulation of debris. 'Unfortunately, as far as the Mediterranean is concerned, it would not be wrong to say that 'not a single inch of it is clean',' Dr Canals said. 'The dive videos show the floor of the Calypso Deep littered by anthropogenic debris, with litter concentrations among the highest ever recorded in a deep-sea environment.' To get to the depths of the trench, the researchers deployed an advanced crewed submarine called the Limiting Factor. Their images confirmed that marine litter reached even the deepest and most remote points of the Mediterranean. The research vessel, built by Triton Submarines, carried two passengers to the deepest trenches, moving slowly at about 1.8 kilometres per hour and snapping high-quality images. At the Calypso Deep, the submarine sailed about 650m in a straight line during a 43-minute stay near the bottom. The dive helped researchers calculate the density of marine litter at the bottom of the trench. In some places, the researchers found different types of interaction between the debris and marine organisms. For example, they found instances of animals ingesting the debris and using it as a substrate to grow, hide or lay their eggs. Their study revealed that the deep sea was a 'final sink' for pollution, the researchers said, highlighting the need for paying more attention to preserve marine ecosystems. 'The Mediterranean is an enclosed sea, surrounded by humanity, with intense maritime traffic and widespread fishing activity. The evidence provided by our research should shake up global efforts, and in particular in the Mediterranean, to mitigate waste dumping, especially plastics,' Dr Canals said. 'It is necessary to make a joint effort between scientists, communicators, journalists, the media, influencers and other people with social impact.'
