title: Abundance, size and polymer composition of marine microplastics ≥10μm in the Atlantic Ocean and their modelled vertical distribution.
abstract: We studied abundance, size and polymer type of microplastic down to 10μm 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 501itemsm(-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 10-20μm size fraction, whereas the total volume was highest in the 50-80μm range. Based on a numerical model size-dependent depth profiles of polyethylene microspheres in a range from 10-1000μm were calculated and show a strong dispersal throughout the surface mixed layer for sizes smaller than 200μm. From model and field study results we conclude that small microplastic is ubiquitously distributed over the ocean surface layer and has a lower residence time than larger plastic debris in this compartment.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, DTU, Kavalergården 6, 2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark. Electronic address: kren@aqua.dtu.dk.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Enders
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, DTU, Kavalergården 6, 2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, DTU, Kavalergården 6, 2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark.
authors.forename: Colin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Stedmon
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, DTU, Kavalergården 6, 2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark.
authors.forename: Torkel G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D010316:Particle Size; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D011108:Polymers; D014866:Waste Products; D014873:Water Pollutants; D014867:Water
keywords: Continuous monitoring; Horizontal distribution; Model; Size-selective vertical distribution; Small microplastic