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Updated: Jun 18, 2025
10:16
Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis
Published on: December 16, 2016
49.5K
Exploring the Transport Path of Oceanic Microplastics in the Atmosphere.
Silvia Bucci1, Camille Richon2,3, Lucie Bakels1
1Department of Meteorology and Geophysics, University of Vienna, Universitätsring 1, Vienna 1010, Austria.
Environmental Science & Technology
|July 30, 2024
Summary
Atmospheric microplastics (MPs) are a growing concern. This study models MP fluxes from oceans, revealing seasonal variations and global transport, suggesting current ocean MP data may be underestimated.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Atmospheric Chemistry
- Oceanography
Background:
- Microplastics (MPs) are recognized as emerging atmospheric pollutants.
- Significant uncertainties exist regarding MP emissions and atmospheric concentrations.
- Understanding MP's atmospheric cycle is crucial for assessing environmental impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate microplastic fluxes at the ocean-atmosphere interface using a bottom-up approach.
- To simulate atmospheric dispersion and deposition of microplastics.
- To investigate seasonal variability and identify emission hotspots.
Main Methods:
- Utilized monthly ocean surface MP concentrations from the NEMO/PISCES-PLASTIC model.
- Incorporated a size distribution for micrometer-range MPs and a sea salt emission scheme.
- Simulated atmospheric dispersion using the FLEXPART Lagrangian model.
Main Results:
- Identified hotspot sources in tropical regions with significant seasonal variability in emissions, concentrations, and deposition.
- MP sea surface flux seasonality is opposite to sea salt aerosol emissions.
- Global transport of micrometer-range MPs to the stratosphere observed, persisting for months.
Conclusions:
- Current knowledge of ocean surface MPs may underestimate concentrations by 1-2 orders of magnitude.
- MPs are efficiently transported globally and can reach the stratosphere.
- Further research is needed to understand MP interactions with atmospheric chemistry and physics.
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