Trends in marine debris along the U.S. Pacific Coast and Hawai'i 1998-2007

► National Marine Debris Monitoring Program used for trend assessment in U.S. Pacific. ► For all source types, loads decreased or were unchanged in all 3 regions studied. ► Human population raised land-based loads; effect diminished as population increased. ► Upwelling affected deposition of ocean-based and general-source debris. ► LNSO showed a more complex climate-ocean effect than previously found.