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In situ correlation between microplastic and suspended particulate matter concentrations in river-estuary systems support proxies for satellite-derived estimates of microplastic flux
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Researchers measured microplastic concentrations alongside suspended particulate matter (SPM) in a UK estuary (Tamar), finding a significant correlation between the two parameters. This relationship supports using satellite-based SPM measurements as a proxy for estimating microplastic flux from rivers to the ocean.
Rivers are key pathways for transporting microplastics from land to the oceans, yet microplastic flux estimates remain uncertain. Remote sensing allows repeated broad-scale measurements and can be used to extrapolate limited in situ observations. This study investigated the relationship between suspended particulate matter (SPM), a satellite-observable water quality parameter, and microplastic concentration in a partially mixed estuary (Tamar, UK). Microplastic concentrations ranged from 0.04 to 0.99 microplastics/m3, decreasing downstream. A significant correlation was found between SPM and microplastic concentration over two seasons. This relationship was used to compute a multiyear timeseries of proxy microplastic concentration from satellite imagery and produce estimates of annual proxy microplastic flux. This approach could be applied to investigate microplastic flux in other major rivers worldwide where such a relationship between microplastics and SPM exists. To apply this workflow elsewhere, the establishment of local SPM-to-microplastic relationships from in situ observations and local validation of remote sensing SPM algorithms are essential.
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Suspended particulate matter concentration as a proxy for microplastics abundance in the Tamar estuary (UK): application to satellite remote sensing
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Researchers developed and tested an Earth Observation method using satellite data to estimate microplastic concentrations in rivers by correlating them with suspended particulate matter measurements that satellites can detect from space. The approach was validated against field data from multiple rivers, showing reasonable predictive accuracy for plastic loads. If confirmed, this technique could enable monitoring of microplastic pollution in rivers at a global scale using existing satellite infrastructure.
Data from: In situ correlation between microplastic and suspended particulate matter concentrations in river-estuary systems support proxies for satellite-derived estimates of microplastic flux
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This dataset entry provides raw measurement data from a study correlating microplastic concentrations with suspended particulate matter in river-estuary systems. The data supports developing satellite-based proxies for estimating microplastic flux in rivers and estuaries.
Data from: In situ correlation between microplastic and suspended particulate matter concentrations in river-estuary systems support proxies for satellite-derived estimates of microplastic flux
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This is a duplicate dataset entry from the same study on correlating microplastic and suspended particulate matter concentrations in river-estuary systems. Two separate data records are listed for the same publication.
Estimating microplastic concentrations in surface water using satellite-based turbidity measurements: a case study on the New River, VA
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Researchers used satellite-derived turbidity measurements as a proxy for microplastic concentrations in the New River, Virginia, developing and validating a model that enables broader spatial and temporal monitoring of riverine microplastic pollution without intensive field sampling.
Riverine Microplastic Quantification: A Novel Approach Integrating Satellite Images, Neural Network, and Suspended Sediment Data as a Proxy
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Researchers developed satellite-based models using neural network algorithms to estimate riverine microplastic concentrations, using suspended sediment concentration as a proxy, offering a cost-effective approach for broad-scale freshwater microplastic monitoring.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.