We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Systematic CFD-based evaluation of physical factors influencing the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of microplastic particles in lakes
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used computational fluid dynamics simulations to systematically evaluate how lake depth, bathymetry, wind, temperature, particle size, and release conditions influence microplastic distribution patterns in lakes. Maximum depth had the strongest effect on residence time in the water column, followed by particle size, with 10-micrometer particles remaining suspended for nearly a month in deep thermally stratified lakes.
Spatiotemporal distribution patterns of microplastic (MP) particles in lakes hinge on both the physical conditions in the lake and particle properties. Using numerical simulations, we systematically investigated the influence of lake depth and bathymetry, wind and temperature conditions, MP particle release location and timing, as well as particle diameter (10, 20, and 50 μm). Our results indicate that maximum lake depth had the greatest effect on the residence time in the water column, as it determines the settling timescale and occurrence of hydrodynamic complexity such as density-driven flows in the lake. Increasing particle size from 10 to 20 and 50 μm also significantly reduced the residence time making particle size the factor with the second strongest effect on the residence time and, in turn, on the availability of MP particles for uptake by organisms. Changing bathymetry from a uniform to a non-uniform had a less pronounced effect on particle residence time compared to maximum depth and particle size. Release location, wind conditions, and release time had comparably little effect on particle behavior but became more important as MP particle size decreased. The release of the 10 μm MP particles in the deeper lakes with uniform bathymetry during summer with stable thermal stratification, resulted in a nearly month-long turnover phase in the fall in which both settling and rising of particles occurred simultaneously. This was caused by convective heat and water transport during this period. In these scenarios about 2.6 to 5.4 % of the released MP particles were held in or returned to the water layers near the lake surface. While acknowledging the dominant role of lake depth and MP particle size on the particle residence time, this study further emphasizes that it is ultimately a particular combination of different factors and their interactions that shape MP distribution patterns in lakes.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic particles in lakes: CFD study of the variables affecting their spatiotemporal distributions
AI summary Read the abstract
Computational fluid dynamics modeling was used to study how microplastics of different densities and sizes distribute throughout lake water columns under varying temperature and wind conditions. The simulations showed that thermal stratification strongly controls vertical microplastic distribution, trapping lighter particles near the surface and denser ones at depth. This modeling approach can help predict where microplastics accumulate in lakes and inform sampling strategies for environmental monitoring.
Systematic Evaluation of Physical Parameters Affecting the Terminal Settling Velocity of Microplastic Particles in Lakes Using CFD
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used computational fluid dynamics to systematically evaluate how physical parameters including size, shape, density, and surface roughness affect microplastic settling velocity in lakes, finding that particle shape and density are the most influential factors determining residence time.
Modeling three-dimensional microplastic transport and sedimentation in lakes and reservoirs
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used 3D hydrodynamic modeling to simulate microplastic transport, residence time, and sedimentation patterns in lakes and reservoirs. The models showed that bathymetry and inlet-outlet flow patterns strongly control where microplastics accumulate on lake beds.
Modeling the transport and residence time of microplastic particles in lakes and reservoirs
AI summary Read the abstract
This study developed and validated a model for simulating the transport and residence time of microplastic particles in lakes and reservoirs, showing that hydrodynamic factors, particle density, and lake morphology together determine where microplastics accumulate.
Quantifying microplastic residence times in lakes using mesocosm experiments and transport modelling
AI summary Read the abstract
Mesocosm experiments in a 12x3 meter lake combined with a 1D random walk transport model showed that microplastic residence time in lake water columns is governed primarily by particle size and seasonal thermal stratification, with smaller particles persisting significantly longer. The study provides the first empirical lake-scale data to parameterize microplastic transport models relevant to organism exposure assessment.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.