Chesapeake Bay Plastic Survey: Part 2

From March 16-25, the Ocean Research Project conducted the second part of their Chesapeake Bay Plastic Survey, following up on their October 2023 survey. In addition to measuring microplastic pollution levels across the Bay's mainstem and major tributaries, this research aims to develop a protocol for efficient, long-term monitoring of plastics across the Bay. There is a critical need to understand microplastic pollution's impact on water quality, and the implementation of a monitoring program can pave the way for the future development of a new indicator for the Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card. Insights from both surveys are invaluable for understanding microplastic abundance, types, and distribution. The second survey also featured a virtual crew, including IAN science communicator Lili Badri, facilitating real-time data analysis and science communication.

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