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Long-range atmospheric transport of microplastics across the southern hemisphere

Author

Listed:
  • Qiqing Chen

    (East China Normal University)

  • Guitao Shi

    (East China Normal University
    School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University)

  • Laura E. Revell

    (University of Canterbury)

  • Jun Zhang

    (New York University Shanghai
    New York University)

  • Chencheng Zuo

    (East China Normal University)

  • Danhe Wang

    (School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University)

  • Eric C. Le Ru

    (School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington)

  • Guangmei Wu

    (School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University)

  • Denise M. Mitrano

    (ETH Zurich)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiqing Chen & Guitao Shi & Laura E. Revell & Jun Zhang & Chencheng Zuo & Danhe Wang & Eric C. Le Ru & Guangmei Wu & Denise M. Mitrano, 2023. "Long-range atmospheric transport of microplastics across the southern hemisphere," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-43695-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43695-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Laura E. Revell & Peter Kuma & Eric C. Ru & Walter R. C. Somerville & Sally Gaw, 2021. "Direct radiative effects of airborne microplastics," Nature, Nature, vol. 598(7881), pages 462-467, October.
    2. Ilka Peeken & Sebastian Primpke & Birte Beyer & Julia Gütermann & Christian Katlein & Thomas Krumpen & Melanie Bergmann & Laura Hehemann & Gunnar Gerdts, 2018. "Arctic sea ice is an important temporal sink and means of transport for microplastic," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-12, December.
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