Ocean Spray is Surprising Source of Airborne Microplastics

A new study has shed light on a previously overlooked contributor to airborne microplastics: the bursting bubbles of sea froth. Researchers led by Luc Deike conducted laboratory experiments to investigate the mechanics behind the ejection of microplastics into the air during bubble bursts, a phenomenon driven by the popping of sea bubbles.

Using high-speed photography, the team observed that microplastic particles, ranging from 10 μm to 280 μm in diameter, were propelled out of seawater and into the atmosphere by small droplets called “jet drops.” These drops, ejected by bursting bubbles, carried microplastics into the air, where they could potentially impact the world’s climate.

Once airborne, these microplastics may undergo a process where the water surrounding them evaporates, leaving the plastic particles suspended in wind currents. To estimate the global impact of this phenomenon, the researchers used data on microplastic concentrations in the sea. Their calculations suggest that between 0.02 (44,000 lbs) and 7.4 Mt (16,000,000 lbs) of plastic, with a best estimate of 0.1 Mt (220,000 lbs), are emitted by the world’s oceans annually.

The implications of this study extend beyond the sheer quantity of microplastics released into the atmosphere. These airborne microplastics can influence the Earth’s climate by altering the atmosphere’s radiative balance and serving as nuclei for cloud formation. Understanding the dynamics of microplastic emissions from the oceans is crucial for comprehending the full scope of environmental consequences.

The researchers emphasize the need for comprehensive inventories of oceanic microplastic concentrations to refine estimates of annual emissions. By reducing uncertainties in quantifying oceanic microplastic emissions, scientists can develop targeted strategies to address and mitigate the impact of airborne microplastics on our planet’s climate and ecosystems.

Solution Not Pollution Sweatshirt by Tiny Rescue: Climate Collection

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• Microplastics are Disrupting the Ocean’s Biological Carbon Pump
• Seabirds Removing Microplastics from Ocean and Dropping it Back On Land
• Microplastics in the Ocean Now Outnumber Stars in Our Galaxy — Let’s Fix This!
• Japanese Researchers Have Now Found Microplastics In Clouds

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