Marine snow as vectors for microplastic transport: Multiple aggregation cycles account for the settling of buoyant microplastics to deep‐sea sediments.
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| Title: | Marine snow as vectors for microplastic transport: Multiple aggregation cycles account for the settling of buoyant microplastics to deep‐sea sediments. |
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| Authors: | Wu, Nan1,2 (AUTHOR) n.wu@qmul.ac.uk, Grieve, Stuart W. D.1,3 (AUTHOR), Manning, Andrew J.4,5 (AUTHOR), Spencer, Kate L.1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Limnology & Oceanography. Apr2025, Vol. 70 Issue 4, p899-910. 12p. |
| Subjects: | Ocean bottom, Microplastics, Seawater, Plastic marine debris, Buoyancy, Ocean |
| Abstract: | Many studies have reported the paradoxical observation of high concentrations of low‐density microplastics (plastic particles < 5 mm) in deep‐sea sediments despite their buoyancy. The incorporation of buoyant microplastics into marine snow has been observed to enhance microplastic settling. Previous studies on the vertical movement of buoyant microplastics have been unable to theoretically account for these ocean observations and no study has comprehensively elucidated microplastic transport pathways in the ocean from the surface to seafloor. Here, we establish a one‐dimensional theoretical model, that embraces key elements of the flocculation process, to explain how marine snow acts as a vector to transport buoyant microplastics to deep water and the ocean bottom. Microplastics reach the ocean floor through multiple cycles of aggregation, settling, and disaggregation between marine snow and microplastics. Each settling cycle results in a net settling of 200–400 m. We demonstrate that microplastics with different sizes show distinct vertical settling behaviors and only microplastics less than 100 μm in diameter can reach the ocean bottom. This theoretical model refines our ability to predict and understand the global and long‐term fate, transport, and inventory of microplastics in the ocean interior, the influence of microplastics on the biological carbon pump and the efficacy of plastic management policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Limnology & Oceanography is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 186113320 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Marine snow as vectors for microplastic transport: Multiple aggregation cycles account for the settling of buoyant microplastics to deep‐sea sediments. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wu%2C+Nan%22">Wu, Nan</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> n.wu@qmul.ac.uk</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Grieve%2C+Stuart+W%2E+D%2E%22">Grieve, Stuart W. D.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Manning%2C+Andrew+J%2E%22">Manning, Andrew J.</searchLink><relatesTo>4,5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Spencer%2C+Kate+L%2E%22">Spencer, Kate L.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Limnology+%26+Oceanography%22">Limnology & Oceanography</searchLink>. Apr2025, Vol. 70 Issue 4, p899-910. 12p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ocean+bottom%22">Ocean bottom</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microplastics%22">Microplastics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Seawater%22">Seawater</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plastic+marine+debris%22">Plastic marine debris</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Buoyancy%22">Buoyancy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ocean%22">Ocean</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Many studies have reported the paradoxical observation of high concentrations of low‐density microplastics (plastic particles < 5 mm) in deep‐sea sediments despite their buoyancy. The incorporation of buoyant microplastics into marine snow has been observed to enhance microplastic settling. Previous studies on the vertical movement of buoyant microplastics have been unable to theoretically account for these ocean observations and no study has comprehensively elucidated microplastic transport pathways in the ocean from the surface to seafloor. Here, we establish a one‐dimensional theoretical model, that embraces key elements of the flocculation process, to explain how marine snow acts as a vector to transport buoyant microplastics to deep water and the ocean bottom. Microplastics reach the ocean floor through multiple cycles of aggregation, settling, and disaggregation between marine snow and microplastics. Each settling cycle results in a net settling of 200–400 m. We demonstrate that microplastics with different sizes show distinct vertical settling behaviors and only microplastics less than 100 μm in diameter can reach the ocean bottom. This theoretical model refines our ability to predict and understand the global and long‐term fate, transport, and inventory of microplastics in the ocean interior, the influence of microplastics on the biological carbon pump and the efficacy of plastic management policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Limnology & Oceanography is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=186113320 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1002/lno.12814 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 12 StartPage: 899 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Ocean bottom Type: general – SubjectFull: Microplastics Type: general – SubjectFull: Seawater Type: general – SubjectFull: Plastic marine debris Type: general – SubjectFull: Buoyancy Type: general – SubjectFull: Ocean Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Marine snow as vectors for microplastic transport: Multiple aggregation cycles account for the settling of buoyant microplastics to deep‐sea sediments. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Wu, Nan – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Grieve, Stuart W. D. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Manning, Andrew J. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Spencer, Kate L. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 04 Text: Apr2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00243590 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 70 – Type: issue Value: 4 Titles: – TitleFull: Limnology & Oceanography Type: main |
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