60035b19-bcf8-4b29-be3e-b209faf1b9e5.metadata.xml eng utf8 series GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel datamanagement@geomar.de pointOfContact 2019-12-16T07:29:12Z ISO19115 Supplementary Data to "A critical examination of the role of marine snow and zooplankton faecal pellets in removing ocean surface microplastic" 2020-01-21 publication hdl:20.500.12085/60035b19-bcf8-4b29-be3e-b209faf1b9e5 Numerical simulations and emissions estimates of plastic in and to the ocean consistently over-predict the surface inventory, particularly in the case of microplastic (MP), i.e. fragments less than 5 mm in length. Sequestration in the sediments has been both predicted and, to a limited extent, observed. It has been hypothesized that biology may be exporting a significant fraction of surface MP by way of marine snow aggregation and zooplankton faecal pellets. We apply previously published data on MP concentrations in the surface ocean to an earth system model of intermediate complexity to produce a first estimate of the potential global sequestration of MP by marine aggregates, including faecal pellets. We find a MP seafloor export potential of between 7.3E3-4.2E5 metric tons per year, or about 0.06-8.8% of estimated total annual plastic ocean pollution rates. We find that presently, aggregates alone would have the potential to remove most existing surface ocean MP to the seafloor within less than 2 years if pollution ceases. However, the observed accumulation of MP in the surface ocean, despite this high potential rate of removal, suggests that detrital export is an ineffective pathway for permanent MP removal. We theorize a prominent role of MP biological fouling and de-fouling in the rapid recycling of aggregate-associated MP in the upper ocean. We also present an estimate of how the potential detrital MP sink might change into the future, as climate change (and projected increasing MP pollution) alters the marine habitat. The polar regions, and the Arctic in particular, are projected to experience increasing removal rates as export production increases faster than MP pollution. Northern hemisphere subtropical gyres are projected to experience slowing removal rates as stratification and warming decrease export production, and MP pollution increases. However, significant uncertainty accompanies these results. Kvale, Karin F. Prowe, A. E. Friederike Oschlies, Andreas GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel datamanagement@geomar.de pointOfContact microplastic marine aggregates climate change pollution zooplankton marine snow budget Atmospheric conditions GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 GEMET 2008-06-01 publication Publication: "A critical examination of the role of marine snow and zooplankton faecal pellets in removing ocean surface microplastic". doi:10.3389/fmars.2019.00808 Kvale, Karin F. GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel author Prowe, A. E. Friederike GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel author Oschlies, Andreas GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel author This digital object may be subject to copyright or licensing. If you wish to reuse this digital object, please ask for permissions and terms of use. restricted otherRestrictions conditions to access and use unknown otherRestrictions no limitations to public access doi:10.3389/fmars.2019.00808 largerWorkCitation collection Opendap largerWorkCitation project Future Ocean largerWorkCitation project eng geoscientificInformation -180.00 180.00 -90.00 90.00 oceanrep_access_rights: info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess\noceanrep_eprintid: 48488\noceanrep_open_access: TRUE\noceanrep_publication: Frontiers in Marine Science\noceanrep_publisher: Frontiers\noceanrep_divisions: FB2-BM, FUTURE-OCEAN\noceanrep_oa_apc_fund: GEOMAR\n GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel distributor https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12085/60035b19-bcf8-4b29-be3e-b209faf1b9e5 http Landing page information https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12085/60035b19-bcf8-4b29-be3e-b209faf1b9e5@metadata http Metadata information https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12085/60035b19-bcf8-4b29-be3e-b209faf1b9e5@thredds http THREDDS information series Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services 2010-12-08 publication Kvale, Karin F., Prowe, A. E. Friederike, Oschlies, Andreas, created the series.