Unraveling vertical dynamics: Estimating oceanic transport in marine debris dispersal using circulation structures and Lagrangian tools.

Marine litter, particularly plastic pollution, has become a pressing environmental concern, requiring extensive knowledge of its distribution and effects [Chassignet et al., 2021; Wayman et al., 2021]. Therefore, it is important to consider the intricate interaction between ocean dynamics and the dispersion of marine debris, addressing the different scale processes that influence its distribution, accumulation and fate [Van Sebille et al., 2020]. Coastal areas, characterized by complex hydrodynamics, have a unique balance between atmospheric energy inputs and coastal and seabed dissipation, resulting in distinct dynamic features of the open ocean. We develop Lagrangian tools aimed to obtain information on 3D motions based on surface observations, combining data from satellite observations, model simulations, and future oceanographic campaigns. Climatologies of these Lagrangian indicators, together with their implications for vertical motions, will be presented. References E. P. Chassignet, X. Xu, and O. Zavala-Romero, “Tracking marine litter with a global ocean model: where does it go? where does it come from?”  Frontiers in Marine Science, vol. 8, p. 667591, 2021. C. Wayman and H. Niemann, “The fate of plastic in the ocean environment – a minireview,” Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 198–212, 2021. E. Van Sebille et al., “The physical oceanography of the transport of floating marine debris,” p. 2, 2020.