articleEnvironmental Research LettersJan 20, 2020GOLD OA

The physical oceanography of the transport of floating marine debris

EVErik van SebilleSAStefano AlianiKLKara Lavender LawNMNikolai MaximenkoJMJosé M. Alsina

Utrecht University · Istituto di Scienze Marine del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche · +37 more institutions

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Abstract

Abstract Marine plastic debris floating on the ocean surface is a major environmental problem. However, its distribution in the ocean is poorly mapped, and most of the plastic waste estimated to have entered the ocean from land is unaccounted for. Better understanding of how plastic debris is transported from coastal and marine sources is crucial to quantify and close the global inventory of marine plastics, which in turn represents critical information for mitigation or policy strategies. At the same time, plastic is a unique tracer that provides an opportunity to learn more about the physics and dynamics of our ocean across multiple scales, from the Ekman convergence in basin-scale gyres to individual waves…

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Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Ocean gyre
  • Debris
  • Oceanography
  • Marine debris
  • Environmental science
  • Oceanic basin
  • Microplastics
  • Ocean current
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Life below water
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