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Laboratory Investigation of Cross-shore Lagrangian Velocities of Buoyant Microplastic Particles in Irregular Waves
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This wave flume experiment measured how quickly buoyant microplastic particles travel toward shore under different wave conditions. Results showed that particle beaching time depended mainly on release distance rather than particle properties before wave breaking. The findings help model how floating microplastics accumulate on beaches from ocean sources.
This paper presents a wave flume investigation of beaching times for buoyant microplastic particles dropped at various distance from the shoreline. The beaching times are used to quantify the cross-shore Lagrangian transport velocities of the microplastic particles. Results show that prior to breaking, there is little dependence on particle characteristics (e.g. their rise velocity), and the particles travel onshore with a velocity close to the Lagrangian fluid particle velocity. In the surf zone the Lagrangian transport velocities of the microplastic particles increase significantly, becoming closer to the wave celerity. Additionally, particle characteristics become important, as particles with low Dean numbers (high rise velocity) have a greater tendency to be captured by surface rollers relative to particles with larger Dean numbers (lower rise velocity). An empirical relation is formulated for predicting the cross-shore Lagrangian transport velocities of buoyant microplastic particles. The expression matches the present experiments well and is valid for both non-breaking and breaking irregular waves. These findings help in understanding the accumulation of microplastics at beaches due to the surf-zone processes, especially for buoyant particles.
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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.