Microplastics in the Southern Ocean.
A field survey to collect microplastics with sizes <5mm was conducted in the Southern Ocean in 2016. We performed five net-tows and collected 44 pieces of plastic. Total particle counts of the entire water column, which is free of vertical mixing, were computed using the surface concentration (particle count per unit seawater volume) of microplastics, wind speed, and significant wave height during the observation period. Total particle counts at two stations near Antarctica were estimated to be in the order of 100,000pieceskm-2.
Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga 816-8580, Japan. Electronic address: aisobe@riam.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
Atsuhiko
A
Isobe
Observation and Research Center for Ocean Systems, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan. Electronic address: uchiko.kaori@gmail.com.
Kaori
K
Uchiyama-Matsumoto
Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan. Electronic address: kuchida@kaiyodai.ac.jp.
Keiichi
K
Uchida
Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan. Electronic address: tokai@kaiyodai.ac.jp.
Tadashi
T
Tokai
D000864:Antarctic Regions; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014919:Wind
D010969:Plastics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Concentration; Mesoplastics; Microplastics; Total particle count