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OpenDrift plastic waste in Thanh Hoa

Figure 4. Twelve-month wind rose characteristics of the Thanh Hoa coastal area

measurements were collected over a 1-year period into the simulation model, the study ensured a realistic
from the Ma, Lạch Bạng, and Lèn Rivers. These representation of plastic waste input dynamics and
measurements provide essential hydrological data for dispersion behavior across different seasonal conditions.
quantifying the transport potential of plastic debris from The spatial and temporal distribution of riverine plastic
inland waterways to the coastal marine environment. input is illustrated in Figure 5, highlighting its role in
In particular, daily average flow data corresponding to shaping coastal accumulation patterns.
four representative months – April, July, September,
and December – were obtained from the General 3.4. Simulation setup and analysis
Department of Hydrometeorology. These months To simulate the horizontal dispersion of plastic waste,
align with the seasonal scenarios defined in the study this study incorporated two key physical drivers:
and reflect key phases in monsoonal transitions and ocean currents and wind forcing. Wind influence is
hydrological variability. By integrating this flow data typically parameterized as a fraction (1 – 6%) of the

Volume 22 Issue 4 (2025) 81 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025170129