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Origin and seasonal dynamics of pelagic microplastic deposition in Fram Strait, Arctic

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Researchers analyzed microplastics isolated from sediment trap samples collected at the HAUSGARTEN observatory in Fram Strait, Arctic, between September 2019 and July 2021, measuring particle fluxes and seasonal dynamics using µ-FTIR imaging. They found microplastic fluxes of 0-2.9 particles per square meter per day with spring maxima, providing insight into vertical transport and deposition dynamics in the Arctic Ocean.

Study Type Environmental

Microplastic (MP) pollution has reached the remotest areas of the globe, including the polar regions. In the Arctic Ocean, MPs have been detected in snow, ice, sediment, water, and biota samples; yet their dynamics are still poorly understood. In order to elucidate the transport pathways and drivers of MPs in this fragile environment, this work aims to analyze MPs (≥ 11 µm) isolated from sediment trap samples, which were collected at the HAUSGARTEN observatory (Fram Strait) from September 2019 to July 2021. MP fluxes determined by µ-Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) imaging were 0–2.9 MP m−2 d−1, with maxima in spring 2020 and 2021. All detected MPs were Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/558864/document

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Origin and seasonal dynamics of pelagic microplastic deposition in Fram Strait, Arctic

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