Trans-polar drift-pathways of riverine European microplastic
Abstract High concentrations of microplastic particles are reported across the Arctic Ocean–yet no meaningful point sources, suspension timelines, or accumulation areas have been identified. Here we use Lagrangian particle advection simulations to model the transport of buoyant microplastic from nor...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:164178f66117469fb2b3aaf0a36870c6 2023-05-15T14:35:59+02:00 Trans-polar drift-pathways of riverine European microplastic Mats B. O. Huserbråten Tore Hattermann Cecilie Broms Jon Albretsen 2022-03-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07080-z https://doaj.org/article/164178f66117469fb2b3aaf0a36870c6 EN eng Nature Portfolio https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07080-z https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-022-07080-z 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/164178f66117469fb2b3aaf0a36870c6 Scientific Reports, Vol 12, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2022) Medicine R Science Q article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07080-z 2022-12-31T08:25:07Z Abstract High concentrations of microplastic particles are reported across the Arctic Ocean–yet no meaningful point sources, suspension timelines, or accumulation areas have been identified. Here we use Lagrangian particle advection simulations to model the transport of buoyant microplastic from northern European rivers to the high Arctic, and compare model results to the flux of sampled synthetic particles across the main entrance to the Arctic Ocean. We report widespread dispersal along the Eurasian continental shelf, across the North Pole, and back into the Nordic Seas; with accumulation zones over the Nansen basin, the Laptev Sea, and the ocean gyres of the Nordic Seas. The equal distribution of sampled synthetic particles across water masses covering a wide time frame of anthropogenic influence suggests a system in full saturation rather than pronounced injection from European sources, through a complex circulation scheme connecting the entire Arctic Mediterranean. This circulation of microplastic through Arctic ecosystems may have large consequences to natural ecosystem health, highlighting an ever-increasing need for better waste management. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Arctic Ocean laptev Laptev Sea Nansen Basin Nordic Seas North Pole Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Arctic Ocean Laptev Sea North Pole Scientific Reports 12 1 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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English |
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Medicine R Science Q |
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Medicine R Science Q Mats B. O. Huserbråten Tore Hattermann Cecilie Broms Jon Albretsen Trans-polar drift-pathways of riverine European microplastic |
topic_facet |
Medicine R Science Q |
description |
Abstract High concentrations of microplastic particles are reported across the Arctic Ocean–yet no meaningful point sources, suspension timelines, or accumulation areas have been identified. Here we use Lagrangian particle advection simulations to model the transport of buoyant microplastic from northern European rivers to the high Arctic, and compare model results to the flux of sampled synthetic particles across the main entrance to the Arctic Ocean. We report widespread dispersal along the Eurasian continental shelf, across the North Pole, and back into the Nordic Seas; with accumulation zones over the Nansen basin, the Laptev Sea, and the ocean gyres of the Nordic Seas. The equal distribution of sampled synthetic particles across water masses covering a wide time frame of anthropogenic influence suggests a system in full saturation rather than pronounced injection from European sources, through a complex circulation scheme connecting the entire Arctic Mediterranean. This circulation of microplastic through Arctic ecosystems may have large consequences to natural ecosystem health, highlighting an ever-increasing need for better waste management. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Mats B. O. Huserbråten Tore Hattermann Cecilie Broms Jon Albretsen |
author_facet |
Mats B. O. Huserbråten Tore Hattermann Cecilie Broms Jon Albretsen |
author_sort |
Mats B. O. Huserbråten |
title |
Trans-polar drift-pathways of riverine European microplastic |
title_short |
Trans-polar drift-pathways of riverine European microplastic |
title_full |
Trans-polar drift-pathways of riverine European microplastic |
title_fullStr |
Trans-polar drift-pathways of riverine European microplastic |
title_full_unstemmed |
Trans-polar drift-pathways of riverine European microplastic |
title_sort |
trans-polar drift-pathways of riverine european microplastic |
publisher |
Nature Portfolio |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07080-z https://doaj.org/article/164178f66117469fb2b3aaf0a36870c6 |
geographic |
Arctic Arctic Ocean Laptev Sea North Pole |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Arctic Ocean Laptev Sea North Pole |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Ocean laptev Laptev Sea Nansen Basin Nordic Seas North Pole |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Ocean laptev Laptev Sea Nansen Basin Nordic Seas North Pole |
op_source |
Scientific Reports, Vol 12, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07080-z https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-022-07080-z 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/164178f66117469fb2b3aaf0a36870c6 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07080-z |
container_title |
Scientific Reports |
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12 |
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1 |
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1766308709177229312 |