Abstract: Microplastics (particles < 5 mm) are transported either as individual particles or by “catching a ride” on flocs/aggregates in aquatic environments. This presentation brings together three studies to explain how microplastics are transported via this hitchhiking pathway: (i) identifying which fractions and types of microplastics are incorporated into flocs (i.e., catch a ride) across diverse aquatic settings; (ii) using this knowledge to improve transport predictions, illustrated with buoyant microplastics moving from the ocean surface toward the seabed; and (iii) applying the resulting model to estimate surface residence times and the long-term fate (longevity) of plastics at the ocean surface.
Bio: Dr. Nan Wu is a Marine Ecological Modeller at the British Antarctic Survey, focusing on microplastic pollution and biogeochemical cycles in the Southern Ocean. Nan earned his PhD in Queen Mary University of London, where his research centred on understanding the fate and transport of microplastics in the aquatic environments with a particular focus of flocculation. Nan has over eight years of research experience in microplastics, spanning rivers, coastal waters, and the open ocean. His work encompasses field sampling, in situ and laboratory experiments, modelling, and meta-analysis.