We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
A Methodology for the Estimation of Microplastic Concentration in Relation to the Meteorological Forcing and WWTPs Effluents in Urban Coastal Areas
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a hydrodynamic modeling approach to estimate how microplastics from wastewater treatment plant effluents are distributed along an urban coastline in Greece, accounting for tides and weather. The methodology offers a way to predict microplastic hotspots in coastal waters and could inform better management of treatment plant discharges.
The study of the urban coastline is of great significance for understanding the impacts of human activities on the marine environment. Only recently the emission of microplastics is starting to be considered as a threat to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and currently, little information on this topic is available. The present study focuses on the development of a methodology based on the implementation of the hydrodynamic circulation model ELCOM (Estuary and Lake Computer Model) for the estimation of microplastics distribution in Kavala Gulf coastline. The approach aims to include the effects of the high seasonal touristic activity and consequent large fluctuations in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) discharge rates. Parameters such as microplastic concentration, effluent flow rate and temperature, meteorological forcing and scalars at the boundaries were applied and the simulation was designed to cover the entire 2006 in order to include an approximation of the seasonal 3D dispersion patterns. The microplastic concentration was estimated based on the suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentration measurements applying the approach of [1]. The physical and chemical parameters of the particles were assumed to conform with the assumptions of [2]. The results showed a strong correlation between the microplastics dispersion patterns, the wind climate and the seasonal increase in population during the summer. Microplastic concentrations reached up to 0.185 μg/l in the WWTPs adjacent coastline in correspondence to the beaches with the highest touristic activity. The periodical formation of anticyclonic flows resulted in a net transport towards the center of the gulf and an increase in microplastic concentration in the bottom layer. On the other hand, the simulation showed that considerable quantities of microplastics tend to be transported outside the study area and far from the coastline in deeper waters.
More Papers Like This
Modelling the Marine Microplastic Distribution from Municipal Wastewater in Saronikos Gulf (E. Mediterranean)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used a 3D hydrodynamic model coupled with a particle tracking model to simulate the dispersal of floating microplastics from municipal wastewater in the Saronikos Gulf, Greece, showing how ocean currents influence the accumulation and redistribution of plastic pollution near urban coastal areas.
Microplastics in the Mediterranean: Variability From Observations and Model Analysis
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers combined field sampling across four Mediterranean coastal areas with hydrodynamic and particle drift modeling to characterize microplastic abundance, size, and polymer type variability, finding that wastewater and river inputs drive spatial patterns of surface MP distribution.
Modelling the Marine Microplastic Distribution from Municipal Wastewater in Saronikos Gulf (E. Mediterranean)
AI summary Read the abstract
A three-dimensional hydrodynamic model coupled with a Lagrangian individual-based model was used to simulate the dispersion of microplastics from municipal wastewater discharge in Saronikos Gulf in the eastern Mediterranean. The modeling approach helps predict where microplastics released from wastewater treatment plants accumulate in coastal marine environments.
Modelling the distribution of microplastics released by wastewater treatment plants in Ria de Vigo (NW Iberian Peninsula)
AI summary Read the abstract
Hydrodynamic and particle-tracking models were used to simulate the transport and distribution of microplastics released by wastewater treatment plants in the Ria de Vigo estuary in northwest Spain, finding that tidal and wind-driven currents strongly influence where microplastics accumulate.
Dispersion and accumulation of plastic in coastal regions. Application to the Barcelona coastline
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a Lagrangian coastal transport model (LOCATE) for Barcelona, estimating that the city discharges roughly 60 billion plastic items per year, 97% of them microplastics, with combined sewer overflows as the dominant land source and over half of beach plastic arriving from outside the study domain.
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.