Study Says Underwater 'Avalanche' Moves Microplastic Waste to Deep Ocean

Millions of tons of plastic waste are discharged into the world's oceans every year, but a new study suggests that not all of it passes through seawater in the same way, reports New Atlas. Scientists studying the movement of sediments on the seafloor have found that so-called underwater "avalanches" are carrying microplastics into the deep ocean, a finding that may help researchers better map the distribution of waste throughout the marine environment and help identify future "microplastic hotspots. "

The study, carried out by scientists at the University of Manchester, Durham University and Utrecht University in the Netherlands, looked at the impact of seafloor sediment transport, which they described as the largest current on the planet.

To do this, the team carried out experiments in which quartz sand was mixed with microplastic debris and fibers in a flume designed to simulate sediment flows on the seabed. The scientists then analyzed how these flows shifted the sediment around and distributed the plastic material throughout the seafloor.

The team's analysis showed that the "avalanche" distributed different types of microplastics in different ways. Microplastic debris tended to accumulate in the lower portion, while microplastic fibers were more evenly distributed and took longer to settle. The scientists believe this is due to the fibers' larger surface area, which also means they are more likely to get caught in sand grains and eventually be deposited on the deep seafloor. "This is in contrast to what we see in rivers, where floodwaters wash away microplastics," says Dr. Ian Kane, "and as sediments settle out of the current, the high sediment load in these deep ocean currents causes the fibers to become trapped on the seafloor."

Overall, the team believes that its experiments demonstrate how these sediment streams can transfer large amounts of plastic waste from the nearshore to the deep ocean. Understanding this distribution could help scientists understand why different animals consume different types and sizes of plastic, learn more about its consequences, and also shed light on how toxins build up on the ocean surface.

The study is published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

To learn more about the underwater "avalanche" of microplastic waste being transferred to the deep ocean, please stay tuned to Deep Space's Science & Technology section, which will continue to update you with more science and technology news.

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