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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Researchers find microplastics in clouds
ClearAirborne hydrophilic microplastics in cloud water at high altitudes and their role in cloud formation
Researchers collected cloud water from mountain summits in Japan at altitudes up to 3,776 meters and found microplastics in every sample, including common types like polyethylene and polypropylene. Many of the particles showed signs of degradation and contained water-attracting chemical groups, suggesting they could influence cloud formation by acting as condensation nuclei. The study raises the possibility that airborne microplastics may be affecting weather patterns and climate at a global scale.
Potential impacts of atmospheric microplastics and nanoplastics on cloud formation processes
Researchers investigated how atmospheric microplastics and nanoplastics could act as cloud condensation nuclei or ice nucleating particles, potentially affecting cloud formation, precipitation patterns, and Earth's radiation balance at sufficient concentrations.
Vi nhựa được phát hiện trong các đám mây trên đỉnh núi Phú Sĩ và Oyama Nhật Bản
This Vietnamese science communication article reports on a study finding microplastics in clouds around Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama in Japan at elevations of 1,300 to 3,776 meters. The discovery of microplastics in clouds at high altitude demonstrates that plastic particles can travel through the atmosphere and be deposited by rain in even the most remote environments.
Characterization of Microplastics in Clouds over Eastern China
Researchers collected cloud water samples from a mountain in eastern China and found an average of 463 microplastic particles per liter, with 60% smaller than 100 micrometers. The study found that surface roughening from photochemical aging likely increased the microplastics' ability to adsorb toxic metals such as lead and mercury. Evidence indicates that airborne microplastics may influence atmospheric metal cycles and cloud formation processes.
Microplastics ride the atmosphere
Research confirms that microplastic particles are transported through the atmosphere over long distances, depositing in remote areas including the Arctic and high mountains. Atmospheric transport is now recognized as a major pathway spreading microplastic contamination to virtually every part of the planet.
Atmospheric microplastics in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean: Distribution, source, and deposition
Researchers documented atmospheric microplastic distribution in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, finding abundances ranging from 0.0046 to higher levels and identifying sources and deposition patterns that contribute to marine microplastic pollution from airborne transport.
Origins and ecological risk of atmospheric microplastics at a remote background site in Japan
Atmospheric microplastics collected at a high-altitude site were traced to both local and long-range transport origins, revealing the broad geographical spread of airborne plastic particles. The ecological risk assessment found potential impacts on vulnerable high-elevation ecosystems far from pollution sources.
Microplastics in glaciers of the Tibetan Plateau: Evidence for the long-range transport of microplastics
Researchers discovered microplastics in glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau, one of the most remote regions on Earth. The presence of plastic particles at such high altitudes and far from population centers provides strong evidence that microplastics can travel long distances through the atmosphere, making this a truly global pollution problem.
Airborne microplastics in Antarctica and New Zealand.
Researchers detected airborne microplastics at two remote sites in Antarctica and New Zealand, including in previously pristine regions far from human habitation. The presence of microplastics in Antarctic air demonstrates that atmospheric transport can carry plastic particles to even the most remote corners of the planet.
Adsorption-Driven Cloud Droplet Activation of Fresh and Aged Polypropylene Particles
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles in the air can help form clouds and potentially affect weather patterns. When these plastic particles get weathered by sunlight and air pollution, they become much better at attracting water droplets to form clouds compared to fresh plastic particles. This matters because microplastics are now everywhere in our atmosphere, and understanding how they change weather and climate could help us better predict environmental changes that affect human health and agriculture.
Quick analysis of the influence of the monsoon on the concentration of microplastics in the air
Researchers analysed how monsoon rainfall affected atmospheric microplastic concentrations, finding that precipitation events redistributed plastic particles and temporarily increased concentrations of certain polymer types in air samples. The study identifies rainwater as both a carrier and a concentrating medium for atmospheric microplastics.
Importance of atmospheric transport for microplastics deposited in remote areas
This study highlights atmospheric transport as a significant and underappreciated pathway for depositing micro- and nanoplastics in remote areas including mountain regions and polar zones far from plastic sources. Airborne plastic particles can travel thousands of kilometers before being deposited, explaining the presence of microplastics in seemingly pristine remote environments.
Phát hiện vi nhựa trong đám mây trên đỉnh núi Phú Sĩ và Oyama
This Vietnamese science communication article reports on the same study as paper 37981 — finding microplastics in clouds around Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama at high altitude. The discovery reinforces that atmospheric transport deposits microplastics through precipitation even in remote, elevated environments.
Microplastics in Precipitation: Analyzing Altitudinal Influence on Atmospheric Deposition Patterns
Researchers found an inverse relationship between altitude and microplastic deposition in Central Himalayan precipitation, collecting rainfall and snowfall across eight sites from 445 m to 3,378 m elevation and characterizing microplastics by concentration, size distribution, and polymer composition.
A review of microplastics pollution and its remediation methods: Current scenario and future aspects
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in atmospheric deposition at remote mountain sites in the Pyrenees, detecting an average of 365 particles per square meter per day. The findings confirm long-range atmospheric transport of microplastics far from pollution sources.
High-levels of microplastic pollution in a large, remote, mountain lake
Researchers discovered high levels of microplastic pollution in a large, remote mountain lake, finding concentrations comparable to lakes in densely populated areas, suggesting that atmospheric deposition can deliver substantial microplastic loads to even isolated environments.
Microplastic shape affects travel distance
Researchers found that microplastic shape significantly influences atmospheric transport distance, with fibre and complex-shaped particles travelling farther than spherical ones assumed in most models, helping explain the detection of microplastics in remote locations such as Antarctica and Mount Fuji.
Various Perspectives on Occurrence, Sources, Measurement Techniques, Transport, and Insights Into Future Scope for Research of Atmospheric Microplastics
This review synthesized current knowledge on atmospheric microplastics, covering their sources, occurrence across global regions, measurement techniques, and transport mechanisms, while identifying key research gaps for future investigation.
A global atmospheric microplastics dataset and model-assisted insights into their atmospheric emissions
Scientists created the first global map of tiny plastic particles floating in our air and found they're everywhere—even in remote areas far from cities. These microscopic plastic bits can travel huge distances through the atmosphere and may pose health risks because they can carry harmful chemicals into our lungs when we breathe. The research shows that most airborne microplastics come from land-based sources rather than the ocean, helping us better understand how plastic pollution spreads around the planet.
Atmospheric deposition of microplastics: a sampling and analytical method including the associated measurement uncertainties
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.
Atmospheric microplastic over the South China Sea and East Indian Ocean: abundance, distribution and source
Researchers measured atmospheric microplastic abundance across 21 transects from coastal China to the East Indian Ocean and found that concentrations near the Pearl River Estuary were ten times higher than over the open ocean, with backward trajectory modeling suggesting long-range atmospheric transport exceeding 1,000 km but indicating that atmospheric deposition is unlikely to be the primary source of oceanic microplastic contamination.
Evidence of free tropospheric and long-range transport of microplastic at Pic du Midi Observatory
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.
Examination of the ocean as a source for atmospheric microplastics
Researchers assessed whether the ocean can be a net source of atmospheric microplastics (rather than just a sink), finding evidence that bubble bursting and sea spray can eject plastic particles from ocean surface waters into the atmosphere.
Long-range atmospheric transport of microplastics across the southern hemisphere
Researchers conducted the first hemispheric-scale analysis of airborne microplastics, collecting samples along a cruise route from the Northern Hemisphere to Antarctica. They found microplastics present in the atmosphere over the Southern Ocean and near Antarctica, demonstrating that these particles can travel vast distances through the air. The study reveals that long-range atmospheric transport is a significant pathway for spreading microplastic pollution to even the most remote regions on Earth.