Modelling the Sinking Behavior of Microplastic

Offentlig prosjektsammendrag

The increasing amounts of plastic and microplastic polluting our oceans is causing widespread concern. Plastic is not only an ugly way to ruin a coast line or seascape, but it also can cause harmful effects to marine life, and if not stopped, ecosystems. Much of the 150 million tonnes of plastic that have been emitted into the ocean remain unaccounted for. Only a fraction of this has ended up on the coast line or is floating in the sea surface. The vast majority is considered to be under the ocean surface, and in particular on the sea bed. It is this seabed plastic we know the least about, as it is both the hardest to access and it is also the hardest to clean up. More research is needed in regards to how much plastic is there, hotspots under the sea, and how the plastic can get there. This project MPSINK will develop a model to account for the sinking behavior of a wide variety of plastics, accounting for real-world processes that can affect plastic sinking, such as changes in turbulence and algal blooms. This will be of great assistance to those trying to understand the fate and risk of plastic below the sea surface. Further, the sinkng model can also be extended to help design engineered systems to remove plastic, such as in the design of sinking traps or floatational separator. Therefore the model could also be used to help lower microplastic pollution.