The effect of particle properties on the depth profile of buoyant plastics in the ocean
Most studies on buoyant microplastics in the marine environment rely on sea surface sampling. Consequently, microplastic amounts can be underestimated, as turbulence leads to vertical mixing. Models that correct for vertical mixing are based on limited data. In this study we report measurements of t...
Published in: | Scientific Reports |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2016
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/the-effect-of-particle-properties-on-the-depth-profile-of-buoyant https://doi.org/10.1038/srep33882 |
id |
ftunivwagenin:oai:library.wur.nl:wurpubs/508184 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftunivwagenin:oai:library.wur.nl:wurpubs/508184 2024-04-28T08:30:49+00:00 The effect of particle properties on the depth profile of buoyant plastics in the ocean Kooi, Merel Reisser, J. Slat, B. Ferrari, F. Schmid, M. Cunsolo, S. Brambini, R. Noble, K. Sirks, L.A. Linders, T.E.W. Schoeneich-Argent, R.I. Koelmans, A.A. 2016 application/pdf https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/the-effect-of-particle-properties-on-the-depth-profile-of-buoyant https://doi.org/10.1038/srep33882 en eng https://edepot.wur.nl/392839 https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/the-effect-of-particle-properties-on-the-depth-profile-of-buoyant doi:10.1038/srep33882 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Wageningen University & Research Scientific Reports 6 (2016) ISSN: 2045-2322 Life Science Article/Letter to editor 2016 ftunivwagenin https://doi.org/10.1038/srep33882 2024-04-03T15:23:10Z Most studies on buoyant microplastics in the marine environment rely on sea surface sampling. Consequently, microplastic amounts can be underestimated, as turbulence leads to vertical mixing. Models that correct for vertical mixing are based on limited data. In this study we report measurements of the depth profile of buoyant microplastics in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre, from 0 to 5 m depth. Microplastics were separated into size classes (0.5–1.5 and 1.5–5.0 mm) and types (‘fragments’ and ‘lines’), and associated with a sea state. Microplastic concentrations decreased exponentially with depth, with both sea state and particle properties affecting the steepness of the decrease. Concentrations approached zero within 5 m depth, indicating that most buoyant microplastics are present on or near the surface. Plastic rise velocities were also measured, and were found to differ significantly for different sizes and shapes. Our results suggest that (1) surface samplers such as manta trawls underestimate total buoyant microplastic amounts by a factor of 1.04–30.0 and (2) estimations of depth-integrated buoyant plastic concentrations should be done across different particle sizes and types. Our findings can assist with improving buoyant ocean plastic vertical mixing models, mass balance exercises, impact assessments and mitigation strategies. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Digital Library Scientific Reports 6 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Digital Library |
op_collection_id |
ftunivwagenin |
language |
English |
topic |
Life Science |
spellingShingle |
Life Science Kooi, Merel Reisser, J. Slat, B. Ferrari, F. Schmid, M. Cunsolo, S. Brambini, R. Noble, K. Sirks, L.A. Linders, T.E.W. Schoeneich-Argent, R.I. Koelmans, A.A. The effect of particle properties on the depth profile of buoyant plastics in the ocean |
topic_facet |
Life Science |
description |
Most studies on buoyant microplastics in the marine environment rely on sea surface sampling. Consequently, microplastic amounts can be underestimated, as turbulence leads to vertical mixing. Models that correct for vertical mixing are based on limited data. In this study we report measurements of the depth profile of buoyant microplastics in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre, from 0 to 5 m depth. Microplastics were separated into size classes (0.5–1.5 and 1.5–5.0 mm) and types (‘fragments’ and ‘lines’), and associated with a sea state. Microplastic concentrations decreased exponentially with depth, with both sea state and particle properties affecting the steepness of the decrease. Concentrations approached zero within 5 m depth, indicating that most buoyant microplastics are present on or near the surface. Plastic rise velocities were also measured, and were found to differ significantly for different sizes and shapes. Our results suggest that (1) surface samplers such as manta trawls underestimate total buoyant microplastic amounts by a factor of 1.04–30.0 and (2) estimations of depth-integrated buoyant plastic concentrations should be done across different particle sizes and types. Our findings can assist with improving buoyant ocean plastic vertical mixing models, mass balance exercises, impact assessments and mitigation strategies. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Kooi, Merel Reisser, J. Slat, B. Ferrari, F. Schmid, M. Cunsolo, S. Brambini, R. Noble, K. Sirks, L.A. Linders, T.E.W. Schoeneich-Argent, R.I. Koelmans, A.A. |
author_facet |
Kooi, Merel Reisser, J. Slat, B. Ferrari, F. Schmid, M. Cunsolo, S. Brambini, R. Noble, K. Sirks, L.A. Linders, T.E.W. Schoeneich-Argent, R.I. Koelmans, A.A. |
author_sort |
Kooi, Merel |
title |
The effect of particle properties on the depth profile of buoyant plastics in the ocean |
title_short |
The effect of particle properties on the depth profile of buoyant plastics in the ocean |
title_full |
The effect of particle properties on the depth profile of buoyant plastics in the ocean |
title_fullStr |
The effect of particle properties on the depth profile of buoyant plastics in the ocean |
title_full_unstemmed |
The effect of particle properties on the depth profile of buoyant plastics in the ocean |
title_sort |
effect of particle properties on the depth profile of buoyant plastics in the ocean |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/the-effect-of-particle-properties-on-the-depth-profile-of-buoyant https://doi.org/10.1038/srep33882 |
genre |
North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic |
op_source |
Scientific Reports 6 (2016) ISSN: 2045-2322 |
op_relation |
https://edepot.wur.nl/392839 https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/the-effect-of-particle-properties-on-the-depth-profile-of-buoyant doi:10.1038/srep33882 |
op_rights |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Wageningen University & Research |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/srep33882 |
container_title |
Scientific Reports |
container_volume |
6 |
container_issue |
1 |
_version_ |
1797588552545992704 |