The Russian Science Foundation project (grant number 25-77-20001) “Marine microplastic particles bed-load transport features on rough bottom”.
Project Lead: Isachenko Igor
Abstract
The project aims to: (i) photograph and video the motion of microplastic particles of different shapes and sizes in both unidirectional open channel flow and under the influence of surface gravity waves; (ii) develop a numerical model of particle trajectories based on an existing hydrodynamic model and calibrate the model with laboratory measurements; (iii) identify particle motion patterns (e.g., rolling, sliding, or jumping tendencies) as a function of particle and underlying surface parameters; (iv) derive empirical relationships for entrained particle flux and reference microplastic concentration in the bottom layer, taking into account both particle and surface parameters. The following are considered to be of scientific importance on a global scale: (1) focus on initially non-buoyant plastics transported in contact with the bottom and the influence of microplastic particle shape on this process; (2) new experimental measurements of the probability distribution of the onset of microplastic particle movement at different flow velocities; (3) development of physically based options for parameterizing the bottom transport of microplastics for kinematic models suitable for predicting pollution at the scale of marine waters. The practical significance of the research lies in the development of tools for predicting the propagation of plastic pollution, which is important for the implementation of measures to reduce it.