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Submitted by: Fangzhu Wu M.S. Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research fangzhu.wu@awi.de

Abstract:

High microplastic (MP) concentrations have been reported in the Arctic Ocean, but high-resolution studies on the lateral and vertical transport of MPs from the European waters to the Arctic are still scarce. The JPI-OCEANS FACTS project aims to address the geographical transport of MPs from the European waters to the Arctic waters. Here, samples from different water compartments, such as surface, subsurface, above and below the pycnocline, were successfully collected at 18 stations in the area of interest using an improved Neuston Catamaran, the COntinuos MicroPlastic Automatic Sampling System (COMPASS) and in situ pumps, respectively. FTIR microscopy and spectroscopy were applied to obtain information on MP abundance, polymer composition and size distribution. Preliminary results indicate a considerably variable concentration (0-1240 MP m−3) of small microplastics (SMPs, <300 μm) within the water column, with significantly higher abundances in the surface water (189 MP m−3) compared to water collected above (10 MP m−3) and below (21 MP m−3) the pycnocline. The average abundance of SMPs in surface water samples was four orders of magnitude higher than the one of large microplastics (LMPs, >300 μm); overall, SMPs <50 μm accounted for >80% of all detected MPs. In total, 19 different polymers were detected. PERMANOVA showed that  polymer composition differed significantly among water compartments, while no significant differences were found among sampling transects, suggesting that MPs were evenly distributed horizontally in the study area.

Primary Session Choice: SS081 JPI Oceans Joint Action: Ecological Aspects of Microplastics – From Scientific Findings to Political Action

Authors:

Fangzhu Wu, Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research  (fangzhu.wu@awi.de)


Lina Reding, Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research  (lina.reding@guest.awi.de)


Marrit Starkenburg, Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research  (marrit.starkenburg@awi.de)


Clara Leistenschneider, Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research  (clara.leistenschneider@awi.de)


Sebastian Primpke, Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research  (sebastian.primpke@awi.de)


Alvise Vianello, Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark  (avia@build.aau.dk)


Karin Zonneveld, MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen  (kzonneveld@marum.de)


Gerard Versteegh, MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, Constructor University  (gerard.versteegh@awi.de)


Gunnar Gerdts, Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research  (gunnar.gerdts@awi.de)


LARGE-SCALE TRANSPORT OF MICROPLASTICS FROM THE EUROPEAN WATERS TO THE ARCTIC

Category

Scientific Sessions > SS081 JPI Oceans Joint Action: Ecological Aspects of Microplastics – From Scientific Findings to Political Action

Description

Preference: Oral