Marine Debris Hotspot Analysis in Howe Sound, British Columbia

The study area was divided into three sections to account for spatial variation in debris driving forces contribution. Hourly wind data from four weather stations were used to construct wind rose diagrams that captured seasonal changes in wind direction. The simulation identified 49 predicted debris hotspot locations.

Of these, 20 overlapped with known hotspots, while 10 of the 29 newly identified hotspots are in less populated and previously underreported areas, particularly along the western shoreline. These findings demonstrate that remote sensing, when combined with physically based modeling, can overcome limitations of traditional monitoring methods and improve the identification of marine debris accumulation. This approach provides a scalable and transferable framework for supporting more targeted and proactive coastal management strategies.