A Study on the Impact of Current Speed on Micro-plastic Concentration
Presentation Abstract
The estuarine factors that influence density stratification (riverine input and tidal exchange) in Possession Sound, located in the northeast arm of the Whidbey Basin, also influence the distribution of anthropogenic plastics. Research by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) demonstrated that plastics collect at the surface of the water column and in the sediments. Undergraduate researchers at the Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA), an early college program through Everett Community College, sampled the surface of the water column for microplastics in the spring of 2013. Their research showed higher current speeds and lower plastic concentrations in the center of Possession Sound and higher plastics concentrations near shore at the Mukilteo ferry terminal. Additional research seeks further confirmation of the influence of current speed and location on the distribution of plastics in Possession Sound. Surface collections were conducted at two public access docks on opposite sides of Possession Sound (Everett, WA and Langley, WA). Samples were collected using a 20 μm plankton net in spring, fall, and winter of 2013. Water samples will be analyzed for plastics through a chemical density separation in winter 2014. It is hypothesized that slower current speeds will correlate with higher plastic levels because the plastics are transferred through the area at a slower rate, therefore collecting in that location. Therefore the Langley sampling site should have the highest concentrations of microplastics due to its protected location in a cove.
Session Title
Session S-01A: Current Salish Sea Water Quality
Conference Track
Marine Water Quality
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
1-5-2014 5:00 PM
End Date
1-5-2014 6:30 PM
Location
Room 6C
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Microplastics--Environmental aspects--Washington (State)--Possession Sound; Tidal currents--Washington (State)--Possession Sound
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Possession Sound (Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
A Study on the Impact of Current Speed on Micro-plastic Concentration
Room 6C
The estuarine factors that influence density stratification (riverine input and tidal exchange) in Possession Sound, located in the northeast arm of the Whidbey Basin, also influence the distribution of anthropogenic plastics. Research by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) demonstrated that plastics collect at the surface of the water column and in the sediments. Undergraduate researchers at the Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA), an early college program through Everett Community College, sampled the surface of the water column for microplastics in the spring of 2013. Their research showed higher current speeds and lower plastic concentrations in the center of Possession Sound and higher plastics concentrations near shore at the Mukilteo ferry terminal. Additional research seeks further confirmation of the influence of current speed and location on the distribution of plastics in Possession Sound. Surface collections were conducted at two public access docks on opposite sides of Possession Sound (Everett, WA and Langley, WA). Samples were collected using a 20 μm plankton net in spring, fall, and winter of 2013. Water samples will be analyzed for plastics through a chemical density separation in winter 2014. It is hypothesized that slower current speeds will correlate with higher plastic levels because the plastics are transferred through the area at a slower rate, therefore collecting in that location. Therefore the Langley sampling site should have the highest concentrations of microplastics due to its protected location in a cove.
