Fate and dynamic of marine micro plastics in the Baltic Sea

The fate of micro plastic litter (<5mm) in the marine environment is still largely unknown. H2020 project CLAIM (Cleaning Litter by developing and Applying Innovative Methods) uses model based assessments to improve our knowledge on the micro plastic sources, sinks and pathways. A systematic approach for assessing the sources and pathways of land emitted microplastics was developed and applied for two types of micro plastic from car tyres and cosmetic products. After entering the sea, micro plastic pollutants are affected by transport, biofouling, sinking and sedimentation. A 3D modelling tool has been developed by including these processes. Multi-years-studies (2013-2018) were performed to evaluate seasonal drift pattern and accumulation zones. DMI’s high resolution ocean circulation model HBM, in 900m resolution for the entire Baltic Sea serves as the modelling platform for the assessments. It was found that the fate of micro plastics at sea depends largely on transport and the sinking processes, including biofouling. Tyre wear is heavier than sea water and is accumulating in the deeper parts of the Baltic Sea, whereas micro plastics from cosmetic products are lighter than sea water and are floating near the surface, until biofouling has increased their density sufficiently enough. Key processes that determine the fate micro plastics at sea are introduced and the results of the multi-year study: drift pattern and accumulation zones are presented.