Rapid Landscape Changes in Plastic Bays Along the Norwegian Coastline

The Norwegian Coastal Current transports natural debris and plastic waste along the coastline. Deposition occurs in so-called wreck-bays includes floating debris, such as seaweed, driftwood volcanic pumice, increasing amounts of plastics during last decades. these bays is controlled by ocean currents, tidal movements, prevailing winds coastal morphology. We have compared soil profiles, analyzed vegetation inspected aerial photos back to 1950 defined three zones wreck-bays, where accumulation follows distinct physical processes. Zone 1 foreshore deposition consists recent deposits that are frequently reworked high tides wave erosion. Thus, there no 1. 2 situated above tide mark storm embankments. Here, an archive accumulated potentially deposited decades ago. 3 starts transported wind from 2, zone continues onshore until meets obstacles. Plastic seems escalate formation entangled within organic Mapping characterizing layers indicates deep soils been formed 50 or more years’ accumulation, while pre-plastic thin. forms dams rivers wetlands, changing shape properties landscape, also altering microhabitat for plants. This case-study describes ongoing landscape change, evidently co-occurring with onset accumulation. Such processes not limited coastline but likely occur wherever materials. If this allowed continue, we may witness a continued escalating change function landscapes ecosystems globally.