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Satellite to Detect Styrofoam Waste Accumulating on Uninhabited Islands
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The Korea Multipurpose Satellite-3A (KOMSAT-3A), also known as the Arirang-3A, was put into orbit in March 2015 as part of South Korea’s efforts to emerge as a global power in the space sector. (image: Korea Aerospace Research Institute)
SEOUL, Dec. 28 (Korea Bizwire) A high-definition optical satellite will be used from next year to detect styrofoam waste, the main culprit behind the pollution of the marine environment on uninhabited islands, a state-run research institute said Sunday.
South Korea has about 2,800 uninhabited islands. It has been difficult to get a grasp of the current state of waste piled up on the uninhabited islands since they are scattered in far-reaching areas and are not easy to access.
Global warming has sent the sea level in Korea rising faster and faster, a study suggests.
The Korean Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency in a report Monday said average sea levels along the country s coastline rose 3.12 mm each year over the last 30 years.
But in the last decade, the increase has been even more dramatic. Average sea levels rose 3.68 mm from 2010 to 2019. Along the east and south coast and Jeju Island, sea levels increased around 30 percent more over the last decade than during the previous two decades.
/Yonhap
The average rise over the last 30 years was highest around Jeju Island in the south (4.20 mm annually), followed by the east coast (3.83 mm), south coast (2.65 mm) and west coast (2.57 mm).