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MARINFORSKHAV-Marine ressurser og miljø - havmiljø

Fluxes and Fate of Microplastics in Northern European Waters

Alternative title: Transport av mikroplast i nordeuropeiske farvann.

Awarded: NOK 0.19 mill.

This is a small project that is part of a larger European project under the JPI ocean umbrella, "Fluxes and Fate of Microplastics in Northern European Waters" (FACTS), coordinated by the University of Aalborg. FACTS will provide increased knowledge and improve our understanding of the sources, transport, occurrence and fate of small microplastic particles in Northern European waters. FACTS will combine advanced analysis, monitoring and modeling methods to describe sources and transport of microplastics (MP). The area to be studied extends from the southern North Sea to the Arctic waters of the Barents Sea. Examined transport processes range from driving scenarios via air transport to accumulation and sinking processes. FACTS also focuses on a regional scale to study the transport of MP in a semi-closed fjord system. The aim is to investigate how MP moves vertically in the water column under relatively well-defined conditions. Here Byfjorden outside Bergen will be used as a natural laboratory. This sub-project consists mainly of a doctoral project at the University of Bergen that will take part in the Byfjorden study. The goal is to build a framework of different simulation tools to build statistics, consisting of resource-intensive ocean models to a reduced model used to simulate multiple scenarios. The purpose is to find potential accumulation zones that can assist in the design of a measurement program. Together with the associated measurements from Byfjorden, this will contribute to increased understanding of the environmental impact of plastic and could provide better models.

FACTS will create new knowledge and improve our mechanistic understanding on the sources, transport, occurrence, and fate of small microplastics in the northern marine waters. FACTS will combine state-of-the-art analytical, monitoring and modelling approaches in feedback cycles to describe transport and geographical sources of microplastics contamination as well as sinks from the temperate waters of the southern North Sea to the Arctic waters of the Barents Sea. It analyses the distribution of MP in the water column and quantifies Skagerrak as a major sink zone. Investigated transport processes range from drift scenarios to air transport to aggregation and sinking processes. FACTS also zooms in on the geographic scale to study microplastic transport and fate in a semi enclosed fjord system. The goal is to address the question of how MP move vertically in the water column with time under comparatively well-defined hydrodynamic conditions. University of Bergen main contribution is to provide a PhD position that will work on the enclosed fjord study. The aim is to build a framework consisting of procedures to build current statistics, based in input from general circulation models, and a reduced model that will be used to run scenarios in a Monte Carlo fashion. The purpose is to find potential aggregation zones that can assist in designing a measurement program.

Funding scheme:

MARINFORSKHAV-Marine ressurser og miljø - havmiljø