We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Quantitative detection of aerial suspension of particles with a full-frame visual camera for atmospheric wind tunnel studies
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a method using a full-frame visual camera to quantitatively detect the aerial suspension potential of fluorescent microplastic particles on a glass plate under incrementally increasing wind force in an atmospheric wind tunnel. The method successfully distinguished two distinct suspension rate regimes across varied microplastic shapes, sizes, and polymer compositions, enabling statistically robust assessment of microplastic atmospheric transport potential.
Aerial suspension is an important process to link potential sources of particles to atmospheric transport. For contaminants like radioactive particles, pesticides or spores aerial suspension is especially relevant. We present a method that can visually quantify the suspension potential of particles in an idealized surface atmosphere system. The suspension potential of an airflow was assessed by quantifying fluorescent microplastic particles on a glass plate and exposing them to an incrementally increasing erosive wind force. In this first application of the method, we demonstrate its utility across a range of microplastic particles with regard to shape, size and polymer composition, and to detect two distinct regimes with different suspension rates. It can yield statistically robust estimates for the suspension potential of suspended fractions of up to 2500 particles at a mean areal number density of 2.6 particles per mm2. The mean wind speed at 2.7 cm height reached up to 5.2 ms−1 with a corresponding friction velocity of 0.51 ms−1.Copyright © 2021 American Association for Aerosol Research
More Papers Like This
Vertical concentration gradients and transport of airborne microplastics in wind tunnel experiments
AI summary Read the abstract
Wind tunnel experiments were used to study vertical concentration gradients and transport dynamics of airborne microplastic particles under controlled conditions. The study examined how wind speed and particle characteristics affect the height distribution of microplastics above a surface, with implications for atmospheric deposition modeling.
Effects of Shape and Size on Microplastic Atmospheric Settling Velocity
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured atmospheric settling and horizontal drift velocities of various microplastic shapes and sizes in controlled settling chambers, providing empirical data needed to improve atmospheric transport models that explain how microplastics reach remote environments.
Method and challenges of tracing soil-surface transport of microplastic particles with an advanced-imaging sCMOS camera
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used a high-sensitivity scientific camera to image and track the surface transport of individual microplastic particles in simulated soil environments, identifying the physical conditions under which particles move or remain stationary. Direct imaging of particle movement on soil surfaces provides mechanistic data needed for modeling microplastic redistribution by wind and water across agricultural and natural landscapes.
Atmospheric deposition of microplastics: a sampling and analytical method including the associated measurement uncertainties
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a tailored analytical chain for atmospheric microplastic sampling — including collection, processing, and optical microscopy-based analysis — and applied it to quantify atmospheric deposition of microplastics and assess the atmosphere as a vector of global microplastic distribution.
Is transport of microplastics different from that of mineral dust? Results from idealized wind tunnel studies
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted wind tunnel experiments to examine the detachment and transport behavior of microplastics ranging from 38 to 125 um in diameter from idealized substrates, comparing their aerodynamic behavior to the well-established literature on mineral dust transport. The study identified key differences in microplastic detachment mechanisms relevant to understanding long-range atmospheric dispersal of plastic particles.
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.