He578 "FACTS" Microplastic

“FACTS” Fluxes and Fate of micro-plastics in northern European Waters.

Prof. Karin Zonneveld and Dr. Gerard Versteegh (MARUM) attendet the R.V. Heincke research cruise of the international Project“FACTS” Fluxes and Fate of micro-plastics in northern European Waters leaded by the Alfred-Wegener-Institute of Polar Research scientist Dr. Gunnar Gerdts.

This cruise is one of the core sampling campaigns of the FACTS project of the European Program: JPI Oceans. It aims at targeting fluxes and fate of microplastics in Northern European Waters notably in the northern North Sea and eastern Atlantic Ocean. Within this project more than 50 scientist from 16institutes of 7 countries join their forces to investigate the lateral transport of micro-plastics in the water column from the temperate waters of the northern North Sea to the Arctic waters of the Barents Sea. Furthermore it investigates the vertical transport of micro-plastic particles through the water column and its embedding in the ocean floor sediments.

Prof. Karin Zonneveld and Dr. Gerard Versteegh of the Research Unit RECEIVER support these investigations by collecting in-situ micro-plastic particles from selected water depths to obtain insight into the lateral and vertical transport of these particles. Furthermore, they collect ocean floor sediments to obtain insight into the final fate of the plastic particles. To avoid contamination during coring of the ocean floor, exclusive stainless stainless-steel coring devices have been constructed at the MARUM that are unique for Europe.

More information about the work and life on Bord can be found at Instagram: jpioceanfacts Heincke cruise

In-situ Pump — Deploying an in-situ pump to collect micro plastic from deeper waters

MUC — Multi Core with at the MARUM developed metal collecting tubes that prevent micro-plastic contamination during sampling