形状很重要:微塑料纤维在大气中的远程运输
Daria Tatsii1, Silvia Bucci1, Taraprasad Bhowmick2,3
1Department of Meteorology and Geophysics, University of Vienna, Universitätsring 1, 1010 Vienna, Austria.
Environmental science & technology
|December 27, 2023
概括
微塑料纤维在大气中比球体更远,可以到达北极等偏远地区. 它们缓慢沉也可能损害臭氧层,对地球上的生命构成风险.
科学领域:
- 环境科学 环境科学
- 大气科学 大气科学
- 材料科学 材料科学 材料科学
背景情况:
- 空气中的微塑料在全球范围内存在,但大气运输模型难以准确预测它们的沉积.
- 当前的模型往往简化了微塑料的形状,通常是球体,忽视了它们的非球体性质,这会影响大气的行为.
研究的目的:
- 为了研究微塑料纤维形状对引力沉降速度的影响.
- 通过结合现实的颗粒形状来改进微塑料的大气运输模型.
- 评估微塑料纤维的潜在远程运输和平流层影响.
主要方法:
- 实验室实验测量微塑料纤维在空气中的引力沉降速度.
- 开发和应用一个大气运输模型,使用实验推导的沉降数据.
- 模拟从人口密地区到偏远地区和平流层的微塑料纤维运输.
主要成果:
- 与同等体积的球体相比,微塑料纤维的沉速度降低了高达76%.
- 正确形状的沉速度显著增加了预测的水平和垂直大气运输距离.
- 模型结果表明,1毫米的微塑料纤维可以到达北极等偏远地区,较小的纤维可以进入平流层.
结论:
- 微塑料纤维的非球形形状对于理解它们在大气中的运输和沉积至关重要.
- 与球形颗粒相比,微塑料纤维在远程运输到原始环境中具有更大的风险.
- 微塑料纤维的平流层运输可能会导致臭氧层的消耗,突出了增加塑料排放的环境威胁.
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