Deep Ocean Microplastic Hotspots (IMAGE)

University of Manchester

Deep Ocean Microplastic Hotspots

Caption

Microplastics are delivered to the ocean through rivers carrying industrial and domestic wastewater, carried down submarine canyons by powerful avalanches of sediment (turbidity currents) and then transported on the seafloor by 'bottom currents' and deposited in sediment drifts. Other microplastics sink from the ocean surface and can also be picked up and carried by bottom currents.

Credit

Dr Ian Kane

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