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...
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ftunivwagenin:oai:library.wur.nl:wurpubs/509438 2024-02-04T10:02:40+01:00 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 text/html https://research.wur.nl/en/datasets/the-effect-of-particle-properties-on-the-depth-profile-of-buoyant https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.3427862 unknown Wageningen University https://edepot.wur.nl/395241 https://research.wur.nl/en/datasets/the-effect-of-particle-properties-on-the-depth-profile-of-buoyant doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.3427862 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Wageningen University & Research Marine debris Marine litter Microplastics Plastic pollution info:eu-repo/semantics/other info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2016 ftunivwagenin https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.3427862 2024-01-10T23:18:16Z 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. Other/Unknown Material North Atlantic Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Digital Library |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Digital Library |
op_collection_id |
ftunivwagenin |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Marine debris Marine litter Microplastics Plastic pollution |
spellingShingle |
Marine debris Marine litter Microplastics Plastic pollution 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 |
Marine debris Marine litter Microplastics Plastic pollution |
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 |
Other/Unknown Material |
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 |
publisher |
Wageningen University |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://research.wur.nl/en/datasets/the-effect-of-particle-properties-on-the-depth-profile-of-buoyant https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.3427862 |
genre |
North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic |
op_relation |
https://edepot.wur.nl/395241 https://research.wur.nl/en/datasets/the-effect-of-particle-properties-on-the-depth-profile-of-buoyant doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.3427862 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Wageningen University & Research |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.3427862 |
_version_ |
1789969534066622464 |