NOAA Surveys Alaska Beaches for Tsunami Debris
Government scientists are in the midst of a 10-day trip, surveying southeast Alaska beaches for debris from last year’s deadly tsunami in Japan.
While there have been several high-profile instances of debris from the tsunami reaching U.S. shores, groups that routinely clean ocean trash from Alaska beaches have reported a difference in the volume and type of debris they’re seeing this year, leading them to believe more debris from the disaster has arrived.
A five-member team for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is due back in Juneau on Sunday. NOAA’s Jeep Rice said the hope is for the cruise to average four to six sites a day, with the team split into two crews. However, he said weather will be a factor, with many of the sites opening directly to the ocean and surf expected to limit activity some days. He said some sites also will be very difficult to walk along.
It will be interesting to see the report from this team.