Abundance, size and polymer composition of marine microplastics %26gt;= 10 mu m in the Atlantic Ocean and their modelled vertical distribution

作者：Enders Kristina; Lenz Robin; Stedmon Colin A; Nielsen Torkel G

来源：Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2015, 100(1): 70-81.

DOI：10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.09.027

• Small microplastic
• Continuous monitoring
• Horizontal distribution
• Size-selective vertical distribution
• Model

We studied abundance, size and polymer type of microplastic down to 10 mu m along a transect from the European Coast to the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre (NASG) using an underway intake filtration technique and Raman micro-spectrometry. Concentrations ranged from 13 to 501 items m(-3). Highest concentrations were observed at the European coast, decreasing towards mid-Atlantic waters but elevated in the western NASG. We observed highest numbers among particles in the 10-20 mu m size fraction, whereas the total volume was highest in the 50-80 mu m range. Based on a numerical model size-dependent depth profiles of polyethylene microspheres in a range from 10-1000 mu m were calculated and show a strong dispersal throughout the surface mixed layer for sizes smaller than 200 mu m. From model and field study results we conclude th

• 出版日期2015-11-15