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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Long-distance atmospheric transport of microplastic fibers depends on their shapes
ClearShape matters: long-range transport of microplastic fibers in the atmosphere
This study modeled the long-range atmospheric transport of microplastic fibers, finding that their elongated non-spherical shape causes them to travel much farther than spherical particles before settling. This helps explain why microplastic fibers are found even in the most remote locations on Earth, far from any plastic pollution source.
Atmospheric transport of microplastic particles as a function of their size and shape
Researchers investigated the atmospheric transport and settling of microplastic particles as a function of size and shape, implementing a shape-correction parameterization for fiber-shaped particles in an atmospheric transport model to better represent their reduced gravitational settling velocity compared to spheres. The study showed that non-spherical fibers experience greater atmospheric drag, increasing their residence time and transport distance, and that including shape effects improved agreement between model output and ground-based measurements.
Long-distance atmospheric transport of microplastic fibers depends on their shapes
This study investigated how the shape of microplastic fibers affects how far they travel through the atmosphere. Long, thin fibers stay airborne longer and can be transported greater distances than compact fragments, explaining why synthetic textile fibers are so widely found in remote environments.
Gravitational settling of microplastic fibers: experimental results and implications for global transport
This study measured the gravitational settling velocities of microplastic fibers and found that their non-spherical shape causes them to settle much more slowly than spheres of the same volume. Current atmospheric transport models that assume spherical particles significantly underestimate how long fibers remain airborne. These results have important implications for predicting how far microplastic fibers can travel before depositing.
Shape Matters: Long-Range Transport of Microplastic Fibers in the Atmosphere
Researchers used atmospheric modeling to explain how microplastic fibers can travel long distances through the air, even reaching remote locations far from population centers. They found that the elongated shape of fibers gives them significantly different aerodynamic properties than spherical particles, allowing them to stay airborne much longer. The study helps explain why microplastics have been detected in pristine environments like mountain peaks and polar regions.
Modelling the effect of shape on atmospheric microplastic transport
Using atmospheric transport modeling, researchers showed that the shape of microplastic particles significantly affects how far they travel through the air. Long fibers can spread over a 32% larger area than spherical particles of the same size, and shape matters most for particles larger than 6 micrometers. Since particles in the 6 to 10 micrometer range can reach deep into human lungs, accurately accounting for shape is important for predicting where airborne microplastics end up and who might be breathing them in.
Modeling the Gravitational Settling of Microplastic Fibers in the Atmosphere
Researchers developed and applied a model for gravitational settling of microplastic fibers in the atmosphere, examining how fiber shape and size influence atmospheric residence time and deposition patterns to better understand the global atmospheric transport cycle of microplastics.
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.
Particle properties and environmental factors control atmospheric transport and deposition of micro- and nanoplastics
Researchers built a mathematical model to predict how micro- and nanoplastics travel through the atmosphere, finding that particles around 1 micrometer in diameter and fiber-shaped plastics can remain airborne for weeks and travel long distances. Factors like wind speed, rainfall, and the particles' own shape and density determine whether plastics stay in the air for seconds or spread globally.
Effects of Shape and Size on Microplastic Atmospheric Settling Velocity
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.
Terminal Settling Velocity of Cylindrical Rods with Various Geometries Applicable to Atmospheric Microplastics
Researchers measured how the shape of cylindrical microplastic fibers affects their settling speed through air, finding that curved and V-shaped fibers fall significantly faster than straight ones — up to 57% faster for V-shaped rods — which matters for predicting how airborne microplastics disperse in the atmosphere.
Atmospheric transport dynamics of microplastic fibres
Researchers examined the atmospheric transport dynamics of microplastic fibres within boundary layer flows, comparing their motion to mineral grain transport and finding key differences in behaviour that have important implications for modelling the long-range atmospheric dispersal of microplastics to remote and rural locations.
The atmospheric settling of commercially sold microplastics
Researchers measured the gravitational settling velocities of commercially available glitter microplastics (0.1-3 mm nominal diameter) and synthetic fibers (1.2-5 mm length) in air, finding that non-spherical shapes cause complex settling behaviors that deviate substantially from spherical particle models used in atmospheric transport models.
Atmospheric Resuspension of Microplastics from Bare Soil Regions
Researchers developed a method to estimate how microplastics get lifted from bare soil into the atmosphere along with mineral dust, then modeled their global transport and deposition. They found that this soil-based resuspension is a meaningful source of atmospheric microplastics, with fiber-shaped particles traveling significantly farther than spherical ones. The study suggests that dust storms and wind erosion from agricultural and arid lands may be an underappreciated pathway for spreading microplastic contamination worldwide.
Efficient Atmospheric Transport of Microplastics over Asia and Adjacent Oceans
Researchers developed an atmospheric transport model for microplastics over Asia, estimating annual emissions of 310 gigagrams and finding that atmospheric transport efficiently carries microplastics from land sources to remote ocean regions across the Pacific and Indian oceans.
Integrated assessment of fibrous vs. non-fibrous microplastic deposition patterns in subtropical urban atmospheres: From morphotypes to risk vectors
A shape-stratified study of airborne microplastics in Macao found that fibrous particles dominated deposition, were more widely distributed across urban environments, and posed higher ecological risks than non-fibrous particles, driven by differences in atmospheric transport behavior.
Exponential decrease of airborne microplastics: From megacity to open ocean
Researchers measured atmospheric microplastics across the western Pacific Ocean and found concentrations decreased exponentially with distance from megacity sources, confirming that atmospheric transport is a major pathway for microplastics entering the open ocean.
Lagrangian tracking of particles settling through the atmosphere: influence of particle shape on its dispersion
Researchers launched instrumented balloon experiments as part of the IMPACT field campaign in northern Finland to track non-spherical particle settling through the atmosphere, finding that particle shape significantly influences dispersion trajectories and that existing spherical-particle models underestimate the spread of realistic atmospheric particles such as microplastics.
Improved Settling Velocity for Microplastic Fibers: A New Shape-Dependent Drag Model
A new shape-dependent drag model was developed to improve the accuracy of settling velocity predictions for microplastic fibers, addressing a major limitation of existing drag models that significantly underpredict fiber settling in aquatic environments.
Is transport of microplastics different from that of mineral dust? Results from idealized wind tunnel studies
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.
Tracking the sources of atmospheric microplastic using FLEXPART v.
Researchers used the FLEXPART atmospheric particle dispersion model to track the sources and transport pathways of atmospheric microplastics detected at monitoring sites around the world, accounting for the complex shapes of microplastic fibres that complicate standard atmospheric transport modelling. The study aimed to reduce uncertainty in source attribution for atmospheric microplastics and characterise the relative contributions of different emission sources including urban areas, oceans, and agricultural regions.
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.
Consistent Transport of Terrestrial Microplastics to the Ocean through Atmosphere
Suspended atmospheric microplastics (SAMPs) were measured during a Pacific Ocean research cruise for the first time, finding median concentrations of 0.01 particles/m³ with fibers (60%) as the dominant form and microplastic composition matching terrestrial rather than marine sources. The study provides direct evidence of consistent atmospheric transport of land-derived microplastics to the open ocean.
Data on the gravitational settling experiment and FLEXPART simulations output
This is a dataset accompanying a research paper on long-range atmospheric transport of microplastic fibers, providing gravitational settling measurements and FLEXPART dispersion model simulation outputs. The companion paper demonstrates that the shape of microplastic particles significantly influences how far they can be carried in the atmosphere.