Observations and idealized modelling of microplastic transport in estuaries: The exemplary case of an upwelling system (Ría de Vigo, NW Spain)

Díez‐Minguito, Manuel; Bermúdez, María; Gago, Jesús; Carretero, Olga; Viñas, Lucía

doi:10.1016/j.marchem.2020.103780

Cited by 48 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…The model also had sensibility to detect that MFs do not accumulate in major coastal upwelling regions possibly due to the wind-induced Ekman transport offshore, such as observed at the upwelling system of the Ría de Vigo Estuary (Spain). There, floating MPs are flushed out the estuary as ruled by the seaward wind-induced and gravitational circulation (Díez-Minguito et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global patterns for the spatial distribution of floating microfibers: Arctic Ocean as a potential accumulation zone

Lima¹,

Ferreira

Barrows

et al. 2021

Journal of Hazardous Materials

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Despite their representativeness, most studies to date have underestimated the amount of microfibers (MFs) in the marine environment. Therefore, further research is still necessary to identify key processes governing MF distribution. Here, the interaction among surface water temperature, salinity, currents and winds explained the patterns of MF accumulation. The estimated density of floating MFs is ~5900 ± 6800 items m − 3 in the global ocean; and three patterns of accumulation were predicted by the proposed model: (i) intermediate densities in ocean gyres, Seas of Japan and of Okhotsk, Mediterranean and around the Antarctic Ocean; (ii) high densities in the Arctic Ocean; and (iii) point zones of highest densities inside the Arctic Seas. Coastal areas and upwelling systems have low accumulation potential. At the same time, zones of divergences between westerlies and trade winds, located above the tropical oceanic gyres, are predicted to accumulate MFs. In addition, it is likely that the warm branch of the thermohaline circulation has an important role in the transport of MFs towards the Arctic Ocean, emphasizing that surface water masses are important predictors. This study highlights that the Arctic Ocean is a dead end for floating MFs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global patterns for the spatial distribution of floating microfibers: Arctic Ocean as a potential accumulation zone

Lima¹,

Ferreira

Barrows

et al. 2021

Journal of Hazardous Materials

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“…Besides environmental forcings and hydrodynamic processes, the transport of MPs depends on their dynamical properties, in particular on the vertical (settling or rising) velocity [12][13][14] . Recent modeling studies have demonstrated that, likewise sediments, the trajectories of MPs and the influence of physical processes driving them are very sensitive to this velocity [15][16][17][18] . The settling, terminal, or sinking velocity is the rate at which a negatively buoyant particle settles through a still fluid 19,20 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Biofilms and Particle Physical Properties on the Rising and Settling Velocities of Microplastic Fibers and Sheets

Jalón‐Rojas

Romero-Ramírez

Fauquembergue

et al. 2022

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Vertical dynamics of microplastics (MPs) in the water column are complex and not fully understood due to the diversity of environmental MPs and the impact of weathering and biofouling on their dynamical properties. In this study, we investigate the effects of the particle properties and biofilm on the vertical (settling or rising) velocity of microplastic sheets and fibers under laboratory conditions. The experiments focus on 3 types of MPs (polyester PES fibers, polyethylene terephthalate PET sheets, and polypropylene PP sheets) of 9 sizes and 2 degrees of biological colonization. Even though pristine PES fibers and PET sheets had a similar density, the sinking velocity of fibers was much smaller and independent of their length. The settling or rising velocity of sheets increased with the particle size up to a threshold and then decreased due to the wake of horizontal oscillations in large particles.Biofilm had unexpected effects on vertical velocities. Irregular biofilm distributions can trigger motion instabilities that decrease settling velocities of sheets despite the increase of density. Biofilm can also modify the orientation of fibers, which may increase their settling velocity. Finally, we selected the most performant theoretical formulation for each type of particle and proposed modifications to consider the effect of biofilm distribution.

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“…In contrast, very little quantitative information exists on paint particles in intertidal and benthic marine sediments more remote from significant point sources. Thus, in the coastal environment, Díez-Minguito et al. (2020) refer to paint “sheets” in sediments from the Ría de Vigo, northwest Spain, at water depths of up to 40 m, while Haave et al.…”

Section: Presence and Abundance Of Paint Particles In The Marine Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paint particles in the marine environment: An overlooked component of microplastics

Turner

2021

Water Research X

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Highlights Paint particles are often overlooked in the micro-debris and microplastic pools. The sources, behaviour and impacts of paint in the marine environment are reviewed. Paint particle emissions may be as high as 35% of the synthetic micro-debris input. Paint is regularly detected in sea surface trawls, sediments and animal digestive tracts. Hazardous additives in micro-paint particles render them more harmful than microplastics.

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Observations and idealized modelling of microplastic transport in estuaries: The exemplary case of an upwelling system (Ría de Vigo, NW Spain)

Cited by 48 publications

References 56 publications

Global patterns for the spatial distribution of floating microfibers: Arctic Ocean as a potential accumulation zone

Global patterns for the spatial distribution of floating microfibers: Arctic Ocean as a potential accumulation zone

Effects of Biofilms and Particle Physical Properties on the Rising and Settling Velocities of Microplastic Fibers and Sheets

Paint particles in the marine environment: An overlooked component of microplastics

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