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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Anthropogenic fibres in the Baltic Sea water column: Field data, laboratory and numerical testing of their motion
ClearMicroplastic content variation in water column: The observations employing a novel sampling tool in stratified Baltic Sea
Researchers developed a novel sampling tool capable of collecting several cubic metres of water from predefined depth layers down to 100 m and used it to investigate microplastic distribution in the stratified Baltic Sea during spring thermocline formation. They found strong vertical microplastic stratification at all stations, with fibre-rich surface layers near terrestrial sources and offshore variability linked to thermohaline structure.
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.
Anthropogenic fibers in the Mediterranean sea: Methods and monitoring of an overlooked category of microparticles in the water column.
Researchers evaluated methods for monitoring anthropogenic fibers, including synthetic and natural types, in the Mediterranean Sea water column, comparing two sampling approaches and highlighting that current methods are underdeveloped for capturing this overlooked category of microparticles.
Plastic contamination of sandy beaches along the southern Baltic – a one season field survey results
Researchers surveyed microplastic and macroplastic contamination along the Polish Baltic Sea coast, finding microplastic concentrations of 118–1,382 pieces/kg in beach sand and 0.61–2.76 pieces/dm3 in coastal waters, with sub-1 mm blue fibers dominating across all sites and suggesting a common fibrous source throughout the Polish coastal zone.
Microplastics distribution in bottom sediments of the Baltic Sea Proper
Researchers found microplastics in Baltic Sea Proper bottom sediments ranging from 103 to 10,179 items per kg dry weight across 53 samples, with abundance increasing significantly with water depth. Fibrous particles dominated at 74.5% and appeared to behave as a distinct type of 'synthetic sediment,' following erosion-transition-accumulation patterns similar to natural sediment.
Abundance, size and polymer composition of marine microplastics ≥ 10 μm in the Atlantic Ocean and their modelled vertical distribution
Researchers measured the abundance, size distribution, and polymer composition of microplastics 10 micrometers and larger in the Atlantic Ocean, finding widespread contamination and providing data that helps fill gaps in understanding smaller particle fractions.
Thin synthetic fibers sinking in still and convectively mixing water: laboratory experiments and projection to oceanic environment
Researchers conducted laboratory experiments on synthetic fibers sinking in still and convectively mixing water and found that fiber orientation and thermal convection substantially influence sinking behavior, with implications for understanding fiber transport in ocean environments.
Abundance and characteristics of microfibers detected in sediment trap material from the deep subtropical North Atlantic Ocean
Researchers analyzed microfibers collected in sediment traps from the deep subtropical North Atlantic Ocean to characterize their abundance and composition, finding that synthetic fibers are transported through the water column and deposited in deep-sea sediments. The study helps quantify the role of atmospheric and surface inputs in delivering fibrous microplastics to deep marine environments.
Dominance of cellulosic and synthetic microfibers in upper layers of the Atlantic Ocean: evidence from the Vendée globe 2020 race
A continuous sampling study across the Atlantic Ocean during the 2020 Vendée Globe sailing race found that cellulosic (natural) and synthetic microfibers dominate the upper ocean layer (0–5 m), with microplastic concentrations increasing closer to coastlines and in the South Atlantic. Using finer mesh filters than most ocean surveys, the study captured small particles that are typically missed, suggesting global microplastic estimates may be significantly underreported.
Transport and Behavior of Microplastics Emissions From Urban Sources in the Baltic Sea
Researchers compiled microplastic emission data for urban sources in the Baltic Sea region and modelled transport and deposition of polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET particles using 3D simulations. The study found that combined sewer overflow systems and untreated wastewater are major pathways for microplastics, with particle density strongly influencing transport trajectories and depositional patterns.
Modeling drift and fate of microplastics in the Baltic Sea
Researchers developed a hydrodynamic model to track the drift and accumulation of microplastics in the Baltic Sea, linking coastal emission sources to offshore accumulation zones and identifying key oceanographic processes that govern the fate of land-derived plastic pollution.
Global patterns for the spatial distribution of floating microfibers: Arctic Ocean as a potential accumulation zone
Researchers modeled global ocean microfiber distribution using oceanographic variables and predicted the Arctic Ocean is a terminal accumulation zone for floating microfibers, with the thermohaline circulation's warm branch actively transporting fibers northward to densities far above those in tropical ocean gyres.
Investigation of dynamic change in microplastics vertical distribution patterns: The seasonal effect on vertical distribution
This study combined targeted field sampling in the Bay of Marseille with numerical simulations to analyze how microplastic vertical distribution patterns in the ocean water column change seasonally, finding that wind mixing and particle buoyancy are key drivers of vertical transport.
Marine environment microfiber contamination: Global patterns and the diversity of microparticle origins
Researchers collected 1,393 one-liter water grab samples globally and found a mean microparticle concentration of 11.8 particles per liter — roughly 1,000 times higher than model predictions — with 91% being microfibers, 57% synthetic, and highest densities in polar oceans, while also documenting underreported non-synthetic and semi-synthetic fibers from natural textile sources.
Occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastics in the surface waters of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga
Microplastic abundance and composition were compared between the Gulf of Riga and the Eastern Gotland Basin of the Baltic Sea, with higher concentrations in the Gulf of Riga near river mouths and urban coasts, and polypropylene and polyethylene dominating the polymer composition at most sites.
Microfibers in oceanic surface waters: A global characterization
A global analysis of 916 seawater samples from six ocean basins characterized microfibers as ubiquitous contaminants, finding that many are not synthetic textiles but natural or semi-synthetic materials, questioning the assumption that all environmental fibers are microplastic.
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.
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 Harbour Seawaters: A Case Study in the Port of Gdynia, Baltic Sea
Microplastics were measured in five basins of the Port of Gdynia in the Baltic Sea across four seasons, finding concentrations of 0.082-0.524 mg per cubic meter, with polyolefins dominant and fragments and fibres the most common shapes in harbour surface waters.
Pelagic distribution of plastic debris (> 500 µm) and marine organisms in the upper layer of the North Atlantic Ocean
Researchers mapped the vertical distribution of plastic debris in the upper 300 meters of the North Atlantic Ocean, finding that plastic concentrations drop rapidly below the surface and that subsurface plastics overlap spatially with key planktonic organisms.
Microplastics on sandy beaches of the southern Baltic Sea
Microplastics were detected on all 12 beaches along the Polish Baltic coast at concentrations of 76 to 295 items per kilogram of sediment, with fibers and fragments dominant and no strong relationship to sediment grain size. Urban beaches had the highest concentrations, though beach hydrodynamics also played a significant role in structuring local microplastic distribution.
Modeling the transport and accumulation of microplastics in the Gulf of Finland
Researchers used numerical simulations to model how microplastics are transported and accumulate across the Gulf of Finland in the eastern Baltic Sea. The model accounted for diffusion, beaching, resuspension, and biofouling, and found that microplastic accumulation patterns depend strongly on particle buoyancy. The results identify hotspots of microplastic accumulation in this semi-enclosed sea and can inform targeted cleanup efforts.
Assessing the Occurrence and Distribution of Microplastics in Surface Freshwater and Wastewaters of Latvia and Lithuania
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in surface water and wastewater across four Baltic cities in Latvia and Lithuania, finding an average of 16.63 particles/L with fibers as the dominant shape and polyethylene terephthalate as the most common polymer, with municipal and hospital wastewater identified as the primary contamination sources.
Marine microplastics analysis and their transport in the water column of the Canary Islands region
Researchers characterized marine microplastics in the water column of the Canary Islands, tracking how ocean currents and physical processes transport particles vertically and horizontally. The study found that particle properties and oceanographic conditions jointly determine where microplastics accumulate in the water column.