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Wave-induced cross-shore distribution of different densities, shapes, and sizes of plastic debris in coastal environments: A laboratory experiment
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Researchers conducted laboratory experiments to understand how wave-induced currents sort and transport plastic debris of different densities, shapes, and sizes across coastal environments, revealing distinct cross-shore distribution patterns.
Plastic debris is a significant threat to marine and coastal ecosystems. Previous research found that waves, wind, as well as density, size, and shape of microplastics, drive their transport and dispersion. In this paper, a set of laboratory experiments on the effect of waves and wave-induced currents on the input rate and cross-shore transport and dispersion of different types of plastic debris, including the macro and mesosizes, in addition to microplastics is presented. 15 plastic-debris types characterized by different sizes, shapes, and densities, including facemasks, were analyzed under regular and irregular wave conditions. The results show that input and transport rates of plastics depend on their terminal velocities and wave steepness. Plastics with higher settling velocities under less-steep wave conditions are likely to escape coastal entrapment and end up in the breaking zone. However, plastics with greater buoyancy rates under steeper waves show a predominant accumulation closer to the shoreline.
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Researchers examined how wave action distributes 13 different microplastic types of varying size, shape, and density across a surf zone using a wave flume with a mobile sandy beach profile, running over 40,000 regular wave cycles. They found that higher-density and larger particles accumulated in shallower water, while lighter particles were transported offshore, with particle density being the dominant factor governing cross-shore distribution.
Experimental study of non-buoyant microplastic transport beneath breaking irregular waves on a live sediment bed
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Researchers conducted wave-flume experiments showing that non-buoyant microplastics are transported shoreward under breaking irregular waves, with their cross-shore distribution influenced by wave energy, particle density, and sediment bed dynamics.
A laboratory experiment on the effect of waves on the transport and dispersion of macro, meso, and microplastics in the surf zone
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This laboratory wave tank experiment examined how waves in the surf zone transport and spread macro-, meso-, and microplastics. Waves caused rapid horizontal and vertical mixing of plastic particles, suggesting that coastal wave action significantly influences where plastic debris concentrates along shorelines.
Laboratory Measurements of the Wave‐Induced Motion of Plastic Particles: Influence of Wave Period, Plastic Size and Plastic Density
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Researchers conducted laboratory flume experiments to measure the wave-induced Lagrangian drift of plastic particles of varying size and density under different wave periods and intermediate water depth conditions. They found that particle density was the dominant factor — floating particles followed theoretical Stokes drift closely while sinking particles showed substantially reduced net displacement — with implications for predicting plastic transport from coasts to ocean garbage patches.
Simulation of microplastic particles propagation in the coastal zone of the reservoir due to wave motion
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Researchers simulated how microplastic particles of different sizes, shapes, and densities propagate in a coastal reservoir under wave motion. The model revealed that particle properties strongly influence transport pathways, with lighter and more irregularly shaped particles dispersing further and more unpredictably.
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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.