The 2025 field experiment of the Plastic Litter Project took place in the Gulf of Gera, Lesvos, and involved the construction, deployment, monitoring, and removal of floating targets designed to test satellite detection capabilities for marine litter.
A total of six targets were deployed: three sizes (1 m², 2 m², and 3 m²) for each of two materials — white HDPE tarp and wooden planks, all mounted within PVC pipe frames.
May 8–9: Targets were constructed on land by the research team.
May 12: All targets were deployed in the Gulf of Gera and secured in position.
May 19: Mid-deployment inspection revealed partial detachment of the 2 m² wooden planks target, which was successfully retrieved and repaired on site.
May 23: All six targets were removed from the water, completing the deployment phase.
This hands-on component of PLP2025 supports the broader aim of evaluating satellite-based detection thresholds, using high-resolution SAR imagery (UMBRA) collected during the deployment window.
