Objectives
MicroplastiX is an international, multidisciplinary research project studying the effects of weathering and degradation of plastic materials and the resulting fragmentation into smaller elements called microplastics (MP). The project will also study how these processes affect the distribution and dispersion of MP in the marine environment, as well as the effects on marine biota.
- How turbidity and agitation affect the buoyancy of microplastics ;
- How microplastics are transported from beaches and coastal areas to the open sea;
- What are the effects of Stokes drift, Langmuir circulation and other non-linear wind effects on the dispersion and distribution of microplastics?
- How microplastics are affected by movement, entrainment and accumulation in the water column and/or on the seabed, both horizontally and vertically;
- What are the effects and impacts of degradation, fragmentation, bioaggregation and biofouling on the buoyancy of microplastic particles?
- How microplastics affect marine organisms ;
- How can we develop, optimise and validate mathematical tools and software to simulate the physical and biochemical processes of microplastics in seawater?
