Method for Detecting Floating Marine Debris Based on Water Column Profiling Data from a Pulsed Ultraviolet Lidar

A criterion has been developed for detecting anthropogenic debris floating on the water surface during water column profiling using a pulsed ultraviolet laser with a sounding radiation wavelength of 355 nm. The criterion has been applied to lidar sounding data of the near-surface sea layer from several expeditions in the Black Sea. The conditions for the applicability of the proposed marine debris detection criterion are formulated. A comparison has been carried out between the results obtained using this criterion and visual observation data. The potential for using the criterion to assess the scale of pollution in the World Ocean water areas is demonstrated.