Experimental investigation on the nearshore transport of buoyant microplastic particles

verfasst von: Bjarke Eltard Larsen, Mustafa Ali Abdullah Al-Obaidi, Hasan Gokhan Guler, Stefan Carstensen, Koray Deniz Goral, Erik Damgaard Christensen, Nils B. Kerpen, Torsten Schlurmann, David R. Fuhrman
Abstract: This paper presents experimental measurements of beaching times for buoyant microplastic particles released, both in the pre-breaking region and within the surf zone. The beaching times are used to quantify cross-shore Lagrangian transport velocities of the microplastics. Prior to breaking the particles travel onshore with a velocity close to the Lagrangian fluid particle velocity, regardless of particle characteristics. In the surf zone the Lagrangian velocities of the microplastics increase and become closer to the wave celerity. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that particles having low Dean numbers (dimensionless fall velocity) are transported at higher mean velocities, as they have a larger tendency to be at the free-surface relative to particles with higher Dean numbers. An empirical relation is formulated for predicting the cross-shore Lagrangian transport velocities of buoyant microplastic particles, valid for both non-breaking and breaking irregular waves. The expression matches the present experiments well, in addition to two prior studies.
Organisationseinheit(en): Ludwig-Franzius-Institut für Wasserbau, Ästuar- und Küsteningenieurwesen
Externe Organisation(en): Technical University of Denmark
Middle East Technical University (METU)
Typ: Artikel
Journal: Marine pollution bulletin
Band: 187
ISSN: 0025-326X
Publikationsdatum: 02.2023
Publikationsstatus: Veröffentlicht
Peer-reviewed: Ja
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete: Umweltverschmutzung, Aquatische Wissenschaften, Ozeanographie
Fachgebiet (basierend auf ÖFOS 2012): Wasserbau
Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung: SDG 14 – Lebensraum Wasser, SDG 6 – Sauberes Wasser und sanitäre Einrichtungen
Elektronische Version(en): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114610 (Zugang: Offen)