Long-range atmospheric transport of microplastics across the southern hemisphere

Type of content
Journal Article
Thesis discipline
Degree name
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
eng
Date
2023
Authors
Chen , Qiqing
Shi , Guitao
Revell, Laura
Zhang , Jun
Zuo , Chencheng
Wang , Danhe
Le Ru , Eric C.
Wu , Guangmei
Mitrano , Denise M.
Abstract

Airborne microplastics (MPs) can undergo long range transport to remote regions. Yet there is a large knowledge gap regarding the occurrence and burden of MPs in the marine boundary layer, which hampers comprehensive modelling of their global atmospheric transport. In particular, the transport efficiency of MPs with different sizes and morphologies remains uncertain. Here we show a hemispheric-scale analysis of airborne MPs along a cruise path from the mid-Northern Hemisphere to Antarctica. We present the inaugural measurements of MPs concentrations over the Southern Ocean and interior Antarctica and find that MPs fibers are transported more efficiently than MPs fragments along the transect, with the transport dynamics of MPs generally similar to those of non-plastic particles. Morphology is found to be the dominant factor influencing the hemispheric transport of MPs to remote Antarctic regions. This study underlines the importance of long-range atmospheric transport in MPs cycling dynamics in the environment.

Description
Citation
Chen Q, Shi G, Revell LE, Zhang J, Zuo C, Wang D, Le Ru EC, Wu G, Mitrano DM (2023). Long-range atmospheric transport of microplastics across the southern hemisphere. Nature Communications. 14(1). 7898-.
Keywords
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
37 - Earth sciences::3701 - Atmospheric sciences::370102 - Air pollution processes and air quality measurement
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All rights reserved unless otherwise stated