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Evidence of free tropospheric and long-range transport of microplastic at Pic du Midi Observatory
Nature Communications2021
242 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 50
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Steve Allen,
Steve Allen,
Steve Allen,
Steve Allen,
Steve Allen,
Steve Allen,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Gaël, Le Roux
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Gaël, Le Roux
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Deonie Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Steve Allen,
Steve Allen,
Steve Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Steve Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Vernon R. Phoenix,
Gaël, Le Roux
Deonie Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Gaël, Le Roux
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Gaël, Le Roux
Gaël, Le Roux
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Steve Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Foteini Baladima,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Gaël, Le Roux
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Gaël, Le Roux
Gaël, Le Roux
Gaël, Le Roux
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Gaël, Le Roux
Steve Allen,
Steve Allen,
Steve Allen,
Vernon R. Phoenix,
Vernon R. Phoenix,
Vernon R. Phoenix,
Vernon R. Phoenix,
Vernon R. Phoenix,
Vernon R. Phoenix,
Deonie Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Vernon R. Phoenix,
Gaël, Le Roux
Deonie Allen,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Deonie Allen,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Gaël, Le Roux
Steve Allen,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Gaël, Le Roux
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Gaël, Le Roux
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Gaël, Le Roux
Steve Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Jennie L. Thomas,
Gaël, Le Roux
Gaël, Le Roux
Gaël, Le Roux
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Gaël, Le Roux
Gaël, Le Roux
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Vernon R. Phoenix,
Steve Allen,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Gaël, Le Roux
Steve Allen,
Gaël, Le Roux
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Deonie Allen,
Jennie L. Thomas,
Steve Allen,
Gaël, Le Roux
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Gaël, Le Roux
Gaël, Le Roux
Steve Allen,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Gaël, Le Roux
Gaël, Le Roux
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Steve Allen,
Jennie L. Thomas,
Deonie Allen,
Vernon R. Phoenix,
Vernon R. Phoenix,
Deonie Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Deonie Allen,
Gaël, Le Roux
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Gaël, Le Roux
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Steve Allen,
Jennie L. Thomas,
Vernon R. Phoenix,
Steve Allen,
Jennie L. Thomas,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Gaël, Le Roux
Gaël, Le Roux
Gaël, Le Roux
Gaël, Le Roux
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Jennie L. Thomas,
Jennie L. Thomas,
Deonie Allen,
Jeroen E., Sonke,
Steve Allen,
Steve Allen,
Steve Allen,
Jennie L. Thomas,
Deonie Allen,
Steve Allen,
Gaël, Le Roux
Summary
Researchers found microplastic particles in the free troposphere at nearly 2,900 meters elevation at Pic du Midi Observatory, with air trajectory modeling showing intercontinental and trans-oceanic transport, demonstrating that microplastics can travel vast distances through the upper atmosphere.
The emerging threat of atmospheric microplastic pollution has prompted researchers to study areas previously considered beyond the reach of plastic. Investigating the range of atmospheric microplastic transport is key to understanding the global extent of this problem. While atmospheric microplastics have been discovered in the planetary boundary layer, their occurrence in the free troposphere is relatively unexplored. Confronting this is important because their presence in the free troposphere would facilitate transport over greater distances and thus the potential to reach more distal and remote parts of the planet. Here we show evidence of 0.09-0.66 microplastics particles/m over 4 summer months from the Pic du Midi Observatory at 2877 meters above sea level. These results exhibit true free tropospheric transport of microplastic, and high altitude microplastic particles <50 µm (aerodynamic diameter). Analysis of air/particle history modelling shows intercontinental and trans-oceanic transport of microplastics illustrating the potential for global aerosol microplastic transport.