We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Settlingand Along-IsopycnalSubduction of Small MicroplasticsInto Subsurface Layers of the Western North Pacific Ocean
ClearSettling and Along-Isopycnal Subduction of Small Microplastics Into Subsurface Layers of the Western North Pacific Ocean
Researchers investigated the vertical distribution of small microplastics (10-300 micrometres) from the sea surface to 1,000 m depth in the western North Pacific Ocean, combining seawater sampling with hydrographic surveys at four stations. They found average SMP concentrations of 6,910 particles/m3, with elevated levels in isopycnal layers at 100-300 m depth and below the North Pacific Intermediate Water, identifying both weak settling and along-isopycnal subduction as transport pathways carrying surface MPs into subsurface layers.
Settling and along-isopycnal subduction of small microplastics into intermediate layers over the North Pacific Ocean
Researchers investigated the vertical distribution of small microplastics (10-300 micrometers) from the sea surface to 1,000 m depth in the North Pacific Ocean using seawater sampling and hydrographic surveys, finding average concentrations of 6,910 particles per cubic meter and identifying along-isopycnal subduction as a key mechanism transporting small microplastics into intermediate water layers.
Vertical Flux of Microplastics in the Deep Subtropical Pacific Ocean: Moored Sediment-Trap Observations within the Kuroshio Extension Recirculation Gyre
Researchers used deep-ocean sediment traps to measure the downward flux of microplastics in the western North Pacific Ocean over a two-year period. They found that microplastics, primarily fibers, were sinking to depths of nearly 5,000 meters, with seasonal variations linked to biological processes at the surface. The study provides some of the first direct evidence that microplastics are actively being transported to the deep ocean floor.
Plastics from Surface to Seabed: Vertical Distribution of (Micro)plastic Particles in the North Pacific Ocean
Researchers investigated the vertical distribution of microplastics across the water column and deep-sea sediments (>5 km) in the North Pacific Ocean, finding concentrations of 8-2600 items/m3 in the water column and 1100-3200 items/kg in sediments, with distinct patterns across the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, Papahanaumokuakea Monument, and a less-polluted open ocean site.
Plastics from Surfaceto Seabed: Vertical Distributionof (Micro)plastic Particles in the North Pacific Ocean
Researchers investigated the vertical distribution of microplastics from surface waters to deep-sea sediments (>5 km) in the North Pacific Ocean, documenting concentrations of 8-2600 items/m3 in the water column and 1100-3200 items/kg in sediments across the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, Papahanaumokuakea Monument, and a less-polluted reference site.
Prevalence of small high-density microplastics in the continental shelf and deep sea waters of East Asia
Researchers collected water samples at multiple depth layers across the continental shelf and deep sea of East Asia and found that small, high-density microplastics were more abundant in deeper waters, suggesting vertical sinking pathways concentrate certain particle types in the deep ocean.
Difference in the fate of surface and subsurface microplastics: an example for open and coastal waters
Researchers compared the behavior of surface and subsurface microplastics in open ocean and coastal waters, finding that vertical mixing and biological processes move substantial quantities of plastic below the surface. Subsurface sampling revealed microplastics that would be missed by surface net tows alone. The findings suggest that surface-based microplastic monitoring significantly underestimates the total plastic burden in the ocean water column.
Widespread distribution of microplastics in subsurface seawater in the NE Pacific Ocean
Researchers detected and characterized microplastics in subsurface seawater samples collected across the northeast Pacific, finding widespread contamination below the surface layer and providing insight into how microplastics distribute through the water column.
The distribution of subsurface microplastics in the ocean
This study combined data from nearly 2,000 ocean sampling stations to map how microplastics are distributed at different depths. Smaller microplastics spread more evenly through the water column, while larger ones tend to concentrate near the surface. At deep ocean depths, microplastics make up an increasing share of total organic particles, suggesting they are becoming a significant part of the deep ocean environment.
Distribution and transport of microplastics in the upper 1150 m of the water column at the Eastern North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre, Canary Islands, Spain
Researchers measured microplastic distribution throughout the upper 1,150 meters of the water column at the Eastern North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre near the Canary Islands, finding significant subsurface microplastic concentrations that help account for the 'missing plastic' discrepancy between surface measurements and estimated inputs. Vertical transport mechanisms including biofouling and physical mixing were identified as key drivers of subsurface microplastic distribution.
The vertical distribution and biological transport of marine microplastics across the epipelagic and mesopelagic water column
Remotely operated vehicles and custom samplers were used to collect microplastics from depths of 5–1000 m in Monterey Bay, finding that microplastic concentrations in mesopelagic waters (200–600 m depth) were comparable to or higher than surface concentrations. The study demonstrates that the deep ocean is not merely a sink but an active reservoir of microplastics vertically transported by biological organisms.
Elucidating the vertical transport of microplastics in the water column: A review of sampling methodologies and distributions
This review synthesized sampling methodologies and findings on microplastic vertical distribution in the water column, identifying that surface trawl studies dramatically underestimate total water column burdens and that sinking behavior, biofouling, and hydrodynamic processes create complex depth-dependent distribution patterns.
Distribution of microplastics in bathyal- to hadal-depth sediments and transport process along the deep-sea canyon and the Kuroshio Extension in the Northwest Pacific
Researchers mapped microplastic distribution from shallow to ultra-deep ocean sediments in the Northwest Pacific, including Sagami Bay and areas beneath the Kuroshio Extension current. The study found the highest microplastic concentrations in abyssal stations and suggests two distinct transport pathways: land-sourced microplastics move to hadal depths via turbidity currents along submarine canyons, while ocean-surface microplastics sink directly to the abyssal plains below.
A Numerical Model Approach Toward a Settling Process and Feedback Loop of Ocean Microplastics Absorbed Into Phytoplankton Aggregates
Researchers developed a numerical model to simulate how buoyant microplastics are absorbed into sinking phytoplankton aggregates during algal blooms, causing them to settle toward the seafloor at measurable rates. The model successfully reproduced observed vertical profiles of microplastic abundance in the ocean, including subsurface concentration peaks that simple buoyancy models cannot explain. This work clarifies an important mechanism by which microplastics are transported from the ocean surface to deep sediments, where they accumulate long-term.
Vertical distribution of microplastic along the main gate of Indonesian Throughflow pathways
Researchers conducted the first investigation of vertical microplastic distribution in deep-sea waters along the Indonesian Throughflow pathway between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The study found an average of about 1 microplastic particle per liter across depths from 5 to 2,450 meters, with water temperature and density influencing particle distribution, indicating that microplastic contamination extends throughout the ocean water column.
Differences in the Fate of Surface and Subsurface Microplastics: A Case Study in the Central Atlantic
Researchers studied microplastic distribution in the Central Atlantic and found that surface and subsurface samples differ not only in particle size but also in morphology, polymer types, abundance, and spatial distribution, driven by distinct hydrodynamic processes at the sea surface versus a few meters below.
Microplastics in the open ocean at different depths in the Canary region: Origin, fate, and composition
Researchers characterized microplastics at multiple depths in the open ocean of the Canary region, examining how mesoscale oceanographic structures such as eddies, upwelling filaments, and wind-driven advection distribute particles beyond the surface and through the water column. They found microplastics at all sampled depths with polymer composition and abundance varying by depth, indicating that subsurface transport processes significantly affect microplastic fate in the open ocean.
The vertical distribution of buoyant plastics at sea: an observational study in the North Atlantic Gyre
Field measurements of buoyant plastic particles at multiple depths in the ocean showed that concentrations decrease sharply below a few meters, with turbulence mixing plastics downward. The data validate model predictions and confirm that surface net trawls substantially undercount total plastic in the water column.
Beneath the waves: Vertical and horizontal microplastic distribution in the gulf of panama
Researchers examined the vertical and horizontal distribution of microplastics throughout the water column in the Gulf of Mexico, from the surface to the seafloor. The study found that microplastic concentration and composition change with depth, with the seafloor serving as the main sink for denser and larger particles.
Beneath the waves: Vertical and horizontal microplastic distribution in the gulf of panama
Researchers investigated the vertical and horizontal distribution of microplastics in the Gulf of Lion, examining the factors that govern transport from the ocean surface to the seafloor where plastics ultimately accumulate. Depth-stratified sampling revealed how oceanographic processes distribute microplastics through the water column before their final sedimentation.
Profiling the Vertical Transport of Microplastics in the West Pacific Ocean and the East Indian Ocean with a Novel in Situ Filtration Technique
Researchers developed a novel large-volume in situ filtration technique sampling 10 cubic meters of seawater to profile microplastic vertical transport in the West Pacific Ocean and East Indian Ocean, finding that conventional small-volume methods substantially underestimate deep-water microplastic abundance.
Vertical Stratificationand Driving Factors of Microplasticsin the South China Sea: Distributions, Mechanisms, and EcologicalRisks
This study of the South China Sea found that microplastic abundance decreases significantly with water depth, with lighter polymers concentrated near the surface and denser polymers found deeper. Temperature, salinity, and ocean stratification were identified as key drivers of this vertical distribution pattern.
Vertical Stratification and Driving Factors of Microplastics in the South China Sea: Distributions, Mechanisms, and Ecological Risks
Researchers collected water samples from 15 stations across the South China Sea to map the vertical distribution of microplastics through the water column. They found that depth, ocean currents, and biological activity strongly influenced microplastic stratification, with ecological risk higher in surface and subsurface layers.
Microplastic pollution in deep-sea sediments and organisms of the Western Pacific Ocean
Researchers collected deep-sea sediment and organism samples from multiple sites in the western Pacific Ocean and found microplastics at all locations sampled, with depth, distance from land, and current patterns influencing accumulation, confirming the western Pacific deep sea as a significant microplastic sink.