To study the pathways and fate of marine contaminants, such as anthropogenic hydrocarbons, marine litter (including plastics), heavy metals, HNSs, POPs, radionuclides, PFAS, pharmaceuticals, and other pollutants, researchers widely use oceanographic monitoring, modeling, and lab experiments. This session explores in situ and remote monitoring approaches, including satellite observations, air and sea drones, laboratory studies, computational tools, and digital (web- and mobile-based) applications to understand the distribution and impact of marine pollutants at various scales. It also welcomes emerging citizen science initiatives that contribute to tracking pollution sources and validating remote observations. Solicited topics include new and varied monitoring protocols, toxicity testing, ensemble and multi-model simulations, machine learning, and AI-based approaches.
Marine pollution and its effects on ecosystems continue to pose serious challenges for the sustainable management of coastal and open-ocean areas. Thus, studies that connect marine pollution to larger ecosystem stressors, such as climate change and environmental degradation, are especially appreciated. The growing human impact on the Arctic Ocean, resulting from the melting of polar ice, underscores the importance of understanding the fate of marine pollutants under ice conditions.
The key questions this session aims to answer are: What do we know about the sources of marine pollution? Which factors influence the dispersion of pollutants in the aquatic environment? What happens to the contaminants in the water column, sediments, and on the sea surface? How do marine pollutants interact with biota?
The impact of other environmental stressors, such as artificial light, noise, and thermal pollution, on marine ecosystem resilience is also an important topic for discussion.