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Hurricane transport of ocean-sourced microplastic in the North Atlantic
Summary
Researchers found that Atlantic hurricanes can pick up microplastics from ocean surface waters and transport them as airborne particles, depositing them far from their origin. This study reveals that extreme weather events are an important but overlooked pathway for spreading microplastic pollution to remote regions.
Abstract The atmosphere can transport large quantities of microplastics (MPs) and disperse them throughout the globe to locations inaccessible by many other transport mechanisms. Meteorological events, such as tropical cyclones, have been proven to pick up and transport particulate matter, however, how hurricanes influence the transport and deposition of atmospheric MPs is still poorly understood. In this study, we collected samples of atmospheric fallout from Hurricane Larry as it passed over Newfoundland, Canada in September 2021. During the storm peak, 1.13 x 10 5 particles m -2 day -1 were deposited. Back-trajectory modelling and polymer type analysis indicate that those MPs may have been ocean-sourced as the hurricane passed over the garbage patch of the North Atlantic Gyre. This study identifies for the first time the influence of North Atlantic hurricanes on the atmospheric transport of ocean-sourced MPs, providing new insight to one, potential key mechanism controlling remote terrestrial MPs occurrence.