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The spatiotemporal dynamics, distribution, and characteristics of beached plastics along the remote south coast of Western Australia
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A survey of beached plastics along the remote south coast of Western Australia found that white, hard microplastics dominate, consistent with global patterns. Plastic density was estimated at about 2 items per square meter. The study confirms that even remote coastlines accumulate microplastic pollution, likely transported by ocean currents from distant sources.
Understanding the accumulation mechanism for beached plastics is important for marine debris research. Similar to the global accumulation pattern for beached plastics, we find that along the remote south coast of Western Australia (SCWA) white, hard, microplastics dominate the microplastic pollution accumulating on beaches. We estimate that along the SCWA, plastics are present at a density of 2.01 items·m, but also find that the density of plastic pollution is higher at the eastern end of bays. Significantly fewer plastics were found after easterly winds (austral summer-prevailing winds), and regional physical ocean process, including the Leeuwin Current, and the Ekman transport effect may be relevant to the rate of plastic accumulation on SCWA beaches.
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Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics on insular beaches in the Western Tropical Atlantic Ocean
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Researchers sampled microplastics on beaches of three remote Brazilian oceanic islands in the western tropical Atlantic and found particles on two of the three islands, with fragments being the most common type. The presence of microplastics even on these isolated islands confirms that ocean currents carry plastic contamination far from coastal population centers.
Zonal Distribution Characteristics of Microplastics in the Southern Indian Ocean and the Influence of Ocean Current
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Microplastic concentrations were measured in seawater across the southern Indian Ocean along transects influenced by major ocean currents, finding that plastic distribution was shaped by circulation patterns with higher concentrations in convergence zones. The study provides baseline data on microplastic pollution in a relatively understudied and remote ocean region.
Quantification of Microplastic Fibers Extracted from South Beach Sediments Located on the South-West Coast of Western Australia
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A case study of South Beach in Western Australia quantified microplastic fiber contamination in coastal sediments, finding fibers as the dominant particle type. The study contributes to documenting microplastic pollution along Australia's coastline and its potential impacts on marine ecosystems and recreational beach users.
Low numbers of large microplastics on environmentally-protected Antarctic beaches reveals no widespread contamination: insights into beach sedimentary dynamics
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A survey of microplastics on protected Antarctic beaches found low levels of large microplastic fragments, suggesting that these remote environments are not heavily contaminated. Beach sediment dynamics — including wave action and particle transport — were found to influence where microplastics accumulate in coastal areas.
Microplastic pollution on island beaches, Oahu, Hawai`i
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Researchers surveyed microplastic densities on six windward beaches of Oahu, Hawaii, finding very high concentrations of 700-1,700 particles/m2 on high-wave-energy beaches with coarser sands, comparable to other remote island beaches globally.
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.