Modeling river-to-sea plastic waste dynamics using OpenDrift: A case study in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam

Abstract

Plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems represents a significant and escalating global environmental crisis, demanding urgent scientific and policy attention. This study examines the transport and accumulation patterns of plastic waste originating from the Ma, Lach Bang, and Len Rivers in Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam. To simulate these dynamics, we employed the OpenDrift modeling framework, which integrates high-resolution environmental parameters such as wave action, wind patterns, ocean currents, temperature, and salinity. Simulations were conducted across four seasonal scenarios (winter, transitional periods, and summer) and were validated against unmanned aerial vehicle imagery, demonstrating strong spatial concordance in accumulation patterns. The results reveal marked seasonal variability: winter conditions, dominated by the Northeast monsoon and reduced river discharge, led to localized accumulation along southern coastal zones, whereas summer conditions, characterized by intensified river flow and Southwest monsoon winds, facilitated extensive offshore dispersion. These findings unveil critical, previously overlooked patterns of plastic waste dynamics, guiding precise risk mapping and strategic interventions for sustainable marine management in Thanh Hoa and beyond.

Keywords

Waste transportation / Plastdrift / Seasonal scenarios / Marine environments

Funding

This paper was supported by the national project titled “Research and Development of Technology to Investigate, Monitor, and Map the Risk Zoning of Plastic Waste Pollution in Vietnam’s Sea” (project code: ĐTĐL.CN-55/20).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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