NASA satellite data will now track the movement of tiny pieces of plastic in the ocean. Scientists from the University of Michigan have come out with an innovative way to use satellite.

Microplastics are formed of plastic trash we throw in the ocean which breaks down from the sun`s rays and the motion of ocean waves. These small flecks of plastic are harmful to marine organisms and ecosystems. Microplastics can be carried hundreds or thousands of miles away from the source by ocean which makes it difficult to track and remove them. But here, scientists have decided to track them through space. The new technique relies on data from NASA`s Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System. CYGNSS also uses radar to measure ocean roughness, working backwards, the team looked for places where the ocean was smoother than expected given the wind speed.

The scientists found that microplastics tended to be present in smoother waters, demonstrating that CYGNSS data can be used as a tool to track ocean microplastic from space.

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