Motion · S5M-23444 · 20 Nov 2020

UHI's Environmental Research Institute Detecting Marine Plastics

Lodged by Gail Ross Standard Motion 16 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament commends new research that explores whether thermal imaging cameras can be used to help detect marine plastic pollution from space; notes that researchers at North Highland College UHI's Environmental Research Institute in Thurso has received over £100,000 from the European Space Agency to conduct the 18-month project; understands that the thermal imaging cameras will be flown by drones around the coast of Thurso to determine if plastic can emit different levels of thermal radiation than the water surface, and recognises that the results of this study could be useful in identifying clear plastics that are hard to spot using optical measures as well as helping to evaluate litter reducing policies and to help locate sources and pathways of marine plastic litter.

Supporters (16)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.