Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Floating microplastics concentration in the northwestern Pacific Ocean from 2017-08-28 to 2017-09-24 (NCEI Accession 0276021)

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This study was carried out to estimate the floating microplastics (i.e. plastics measuring less than 5mm, reported in unit of pieces/m^3) concentration in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Microplastics data was collected from 2017-08-28 to 2017-09-24 using a manta net. This dataset contains the results from all 18 sampling stations, in a spreadsheet format.

Dataset Citation

Cite as: Pan, Zhong; Guo, Huige; Chen, Hongzhe; Wang, Sumin; Sun, Xiuwu; Zou, Qingping; Zhang, Yuanbiao; Lin, Hui; Cai, Shangzhan; Huang, Jiang (2022). Floating microplastics concentration in the northwestern Pacific Ocean from 2017-08-28 to 2017-09-24 (NCEI Accession 0276021). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0276021. Accessed [date].

Dataset Identifiers

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

gov.noaa.nodc:0276021

Full Text · XML

Download Data	HTTPS (download) Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. FTP (download) These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP).
Distribution Formats	Excel
Ordering Instructions	Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 NCEI.Info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov

Time Period	2017-08-28 to 2017-09-24
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates	West: 118.990278 East: 151.948056 South: 20.992222 North: 40.000278
Spatial Coverage Map

General Documentation

NCEI Dataset Landing Page
Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links.
Descriptive Information
Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links.

Associated Resources

The NOAA NCEI Global Marine Microplastics Database (1972-present)
- NCEI Collection
  Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download.
Pan Z, Guo H, Chen H, Wang S, Sun X, Zou Q, Zhang Y, Lin H, Cai S, Huang J. Microplastics in the Northwestern Pacific: Abundance, distribution, and characteristics. Science of The Total Environment. 2018 Sep 18;650:1913-1922
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.244
  journal article

gov.noaa.nodc:NCEI-Marine-Microplastics

Publication Dates	publication: 2022-12-16
Data Presentation Form	Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status	Complete - production of the data has been completed Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency	As needed
Supplemental Information	Submission Package ID: 226PKB
Purpose	These data were collected in order to determine the floating microplastics concentrations in the northwestern Pacific Ocean during 2017-08-28 to 2017-09-24
Use Limitations	accessLevel: Public Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.

Dataset Citation	Cite as: Pan, Zhong; Guo, Huige; Chen, Hongzhe; Wang, Sumin; Sun, Xiuwu; Zou, Qingping; Zhang, Yuanbiao; Lin, Hui; Cai, Shangzhan; Huang, Jiang (2022). Floating microplastics concentration in the northwestern Pacific Ocean from 2017-08-28 to 2017-09-24 (NCEI Accession 0276021). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0276021. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors	Pan, Zhong State Oceanic Administration; Third Institute of Oceanography Guo, Huige Chen, Hongzhe Wang, Sumin Sun, Xiuwu Zou, Qingping Zhang, Yuanbiao Lin, Hui Cai, Shangzhan Huang, Jiang
Contributors	State Oceanic Administration; Third Institute of Oceanography
Resource Providers	Zhong Pan State Oceanic Administration; Third Institute of Oceanography State Oceanic Administration; Third Institute of Oceanography
Points of Contact	Ebenezer Nyadjro Mississippi State University (MSU)
Publishers	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Acknowledgments	Related Funding Agency: Eastern Pacific Eco environment Monitoring and Protection Project (DY135-E2-5-02) Related Funding Agency: State Oceanic Administration of China Special Fund Project (SOA201303) Related Funding Agency: Oceans & Fisheries Bureau of Xiamen, China (Contract No. 14PST63NF27).

Theme keywords	NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS microplastic concentration NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS in situ WMO_CategoryCode oceanography Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > WATER QUALITY > SEA SURFACE CONTAMINANTS > MICROPLASTIC CONCENTRATION
Data Center keywords	NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS State Oceanic Administration; Third Institute of Oceanography NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS State Oceanic Administration; Third Institute of Oceanography
Instrument keywords	NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Manta net Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords NETS > NETS
Place keywords	NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS North Pacific Ocean Philippine Sea South China Sea (Nan Hai) Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN > SOUTH CHINA SEA
Keywords	NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 0276021

Use Constraints	Cite as: Pan, Zhong; Guo, Huige; Chen, Hongzhe; Wang, Sumin; Sun, Xiuwu; Zou, Qingping; Zhang, Yuanbiao; Lin, Hui; Cai, Shangzhan; Huang, Jiang (2022). Floating microplastics concentration in the northwestern Pacific Ocean from 2017-08-28 to 2017-09-24 (NCEI Accession 0276021). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0276021. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints	Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees	In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.

Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps	2022-12-16T00:02:12Z - NCEI Accession 0276021 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets	NCEI Accession 0276021 v1.1 NCEI Accession 0276021 v1.1 (download) published 2022-12-16T00:02:12Z

Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps	Parameter or Variable: MICROPLASTIC CONCENTRATION (measured); Units: pieces/m3; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Manta net; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Floating microplastics were collected from 18 stations in the Northwestern Pacific using a surface manta trawl with a mesh size of ~330 μm and width of 1 m. The manta trawl was deployed to sea surface via a reel-operated lift on the side of the research vessel. The angle between trawling and shipping route is about 20°. The microplastics at the ocean surface were sampled by trawling horizontally between 50 and 240 min at a speed of 1.0 to 3.0 knots at each field station. The trawling distance is estimated using the GPS data recorded at the beginning and end of trawling. The sampling area is estimated as the product of trawling length and net width. When the net is clogged by debris such as phytoplankton, the sampling is suspended and restarted using a clean manta net. At the end of the trawling, the net was lifted at a speed of 0.5 m s−1 and rinsed with natural seawater onsite to drive all the samples inside the net down to the bottom of the sampling bottle and wash away the impurities outside the net. The used net was collected for further processing in the laboratory. Plastic and other debris >5 mm in diameter were picked up by steel tweezers and put into glass bottles. The sample in the collector attached to the bottom of the net was then transferred to a 500-mL glass vial. Meanwhile, the control samples were taken by rinsing the collector attached to the bottom of the cleaned nets with Milli-Q water. All samples were stored at 4 °C prior to analysis. Water samples in the sampling bottle were poured through stacked stainless-steel mesh sieves with mesh sizes of 5.0-mm and 0.3-mm, respectively. Residues on the 5.0-mm sieves were collected. Subsequently, the glass sampling bottles were rinsed and then filtered through the sieves with Milli-Q water. Salt was also removed from the field samples during this process. This procedure was repeated three times to ensure complete removal of samples from the bottle. Then the 0.3-mm sieve was rinsed thoroughly with Milli-Q water and all the material collected was transferred to clean beakers. Finally, the sample in the beaker was dried in the oven at 75 °C. Digestion was carried out to aid identification of the microplastics. 20 mL aqueous 0.05 M Fe(II) solution was first added to the dried beaker containing the 0.3 mm size fraction of the collected solids, and then 20 mL 30% H2O2. The mixture covered with a watch glass was kept at room temperature for 5 min and then heated at 75 °C on a hotplate under the hood until bubbles appeared. The beaker was removed and kept until the reaction is completed. Subsequently, it was heated at 75 °C for another 30 min. Another 20 mL 30% H2O2 was added and the above process is repeated to ensure a thorough oxidation of organic matter. About 6 g NaCl was added to a 20 mL sample to increase the density of the solution. The mixture was transferred to a glass funnel after the complete dissolution of NaCl (~300 g L−1). The beaker was rinsed several times with Milli-Q water to ensure that the solid was completely transferred to a density separator which was loosely covered with an aluminum foil and settled overnight. Most plastics would float to the surface the next day. Further MPs screening was conducted through a visual inspection of any settled solids. The identified MPs were drained and collected using forceps. The supernatant was filtered through a glass fiber filter (GF/F Whatman, 47 mm diameter and 0.7 μm pore size) using a vacuum system. The funnel was rinsed several times with Milli-Q water and the solution was poured through the glass fiber filter as well. Finally, all solids including the suspected MPs in the settled solids from the filter were collectively placed in a clean petri dish covered with aluminum foil and air dried overnight for further analysis to obtain the type, abundance, shape, color, and size of microplastics. The collected solids were further inspected visually under a microscope (Olympus CKX 41, Japan) for microplastics screening.; Data Quality Method: The composition of discernable solids was identified using Micro-Raman spectroscopy. Micro-Raman Spectroscopic analysis was conducted using a Senterra II Compact Raman Microscope (Bruker Optics Inc., Billerica, MA) coupled with an optical microscope with a grafting of 1200 lines/mm with 20× and 50× objectives (Infinity, USA). All the MPs samples were excited with visible 532 nm and near-infrared 785 nm diode lasers of 1–60 mW focused onto the sample for 10–60 s. Raman spectra were recorded as line measurements (N4 points) on various parts of the focused particle to avoid any contamination of impurities. All spectra with a frequency resolution of ~3–5 cm−1 and range of 400–4000 cm−1 were analyzed using the OPUS 7.5 software (Opus software Inc., San Rafael, CA). Both commercial library and self-created library references of main plastic polymers were adopted for identifying the composition of microplastics..

Lineage information for: dataset

Processing Steps

Parameter or Variable: MICROPLASTIC CONCENTRATION (measured); Units: pieces/m3; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Manta net; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Floating microplastics were collected from 18 stations in the Northwestern Pacific using a surface manta trawl with a mesh size of ~330 μm and width of 1 m. The manta trawl was deployed to sea surface via a reel-operated lift on the side of the research vessel. The angle between trawling and shipping route is about 20°. The microplastics at the ocean surface were sampled by trawling horizontally between 50 and 240 min at a speed of 1.0 to 3.0 knots at each field station. The trawling distance is estimated using the GPS data recorded at the beginning and end of trawling. The sampling area is estimated as the product of trawling length and net width. When the net is clogged by debris such as phytoplankton, the sampling is suspended and restarted using a clean manta net. At the end of the trawling, the net was lifted at a speed of 0.5 m s−1 and rinsed with natural seawater onsite to drive all the samples inside the net down to the bottom of the sampling bottle and wash away the impurities outside the net. The used net was collected for further processing in the laboratory. Plastic and other debris >5 mm in diameter were picked up by steel tweezers and put into glass bottles. The sample in the collector attached to the bottom of the net was then transferred to a 500-mL glass vial. Meanwhile, the control samples were taken by rinsing the collector attached to the bottom of the cleaned nets with Milli-Q water. All samples were stored at 4 °C prior to analysis. Water samples in the sampling bottle were poured through stacked stainless-steel mesh sieves with mesh sizes of 5.0-mm and 0.3-mm, respectively. Residues on the 5.0-mm sieves were collected. Subsequently, the glass sampling bottles were rinsed and then filtered through the sieves with Milli-Q water. Salt was also removed from the field samples during this process. This procedure was repeated three times to ensure complete removal of samples from the bottle. Then the 0.3-mm sieve was rinsed thoroughly with Milli-Q water and all the material collected was transferred to clean beakers. Finally, the sample in the beaker was dried in the oven at 75 °C. Digestion was carried out to aid identification of the microplastics. 20 mL aqueous 0.05 M Fe(II) solution was first added to the dried beaker containing the 0.3 mm size fraction of the collected solids, and then 20 mL 30% H2O2. The mixture covered with a watch glass was kept at room temperature for 5 min and then heated at 75 °C on a hotplate under the hood until bubbles appeared. The beaker was removed and kept until the reaction is completed. Subsequently, it was heated at 75 °C for another 30 min. Another 20 mL 30% H2O2 was added and the above process is repeated to ensure a thorough oxidation of organic matter. About 6 g NaCl was added to a 20 mL sample to increase the density of the solution. The mixture was transferred to a glass funnel after the complete dissolution of NaCl (~300 g L−1). The beaker was rinsed several times with Milli-Q water to ensure that the solid was completely transferred to a density separator which was loosely covered with an aluminum foil and settled overnight. Most plastics would float to the surface the next day. Further MPs screening was conducted through a visual inspection of any settled solids. The identified MPs were drained and collected using forceps. The supernatant was filtered through a glass fiber filter (GF/F Whatman, 47 mm diameter and 0.7 μm pore size) using a vacuum system. The funnel was rinsed several times with Milli-Q water and the solution was poured through the glass fiber filter as well. Finally, all solids including the suspected MPs in the settled solids from the filter were collectively placed in a clean petri dish covered with aluminum foil and air dried overnight for further analysis to obtain the type, abundance, shape, color, and size of microplastics. The collected solids were further inspected visually under a microscope (Olympus CKX 41, Japan) for microplastics screening.; Data Quality Method: The composition of discernable solids was identified using Micro-Raman spectroscopy. Micro-Raman Spectroscopic analysis was conducted using a Senterra II Compact Raman Microscope (Bruker Optics Inc., Billerica, MA) coupled with an optical microscope with a grafting of 1200 lines/mm with 20× and 50× objectives (Infinity, USA). All the MPs samples were excited with visible 532 nm and near-infrared 785 nm diode lasers of 1–60 mW focused onto the sample for 10–60 s. Raman spectra were recorded as line measurements (N4 points) on various parts of the focused particle to avoid any contamination of impurities. All spectra with a frequency resolution of ~3–5 cm−1 and range of 400–4000 cm−1 were analyzed using the OPUS 7.5 software (Opus software Inc., San Rafael, CA). Both commercial library and self-created library references of main plastic polymers were adopted for identifying the composition of microplastics..

Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument	Manta net

Last Modified: 2024-06-24T20:17:20Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov

Floating microplastics concentration in the northwestern Pacific Ocean from 2017-08-28 to 2017-09-24 (NCEI Accession 0276021)

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