Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Estimations of floating microplastics and mesoplastics in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas collected from 2018-05-20 to 2018-06-15 (NCEI Accession 0279322)

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This study estimated the concentration of floating microplastics (i.e. plastics measuring less than 5mm; reported in unit of pieces/km2) and mesoplastics (i.e. plastics measuring 5mm – 20cm; reported in unit of pieces/km2) in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas collected from 2018-05-20 to 2018-06-15. Microplastics in the surface water were collected using a manta net. This dataset contains the results from all 34 surface water samples, in a spreadsheet format.

Dataset Citation

Cite as: Caldwell, Jessica; Petri-Fink, Alke; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara; Lehner, Roman (2023). Estimations of floating microplastics and mesoplastics in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas collected from 2018-05-20 to 2018-06-15 (NCEI Accession 0279322). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0279322. Accessed [date].

Dataset Identifiers

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

gov.noaa.nodc:0279322

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	2018-05-20 to 2018-06-15
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates	West: 9.01 East: 10.588083 South: 40.974167 North: 44.659117
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.
Caldwell J, Petri-Fink A, Rothen-Rutishauser B, Lehner R. Assessing meso- and microplastic pollution in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 2019 Oct 07; 149, 110572.
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110572
  journal article

gov.noaa.nodc:NCEI-Marine-Microplastics

Publication Dates	publication: 2023-06-23
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: YMF0NM
Purpose	These microplastic and mesoplastic concentration data were collected in order to determine their abundance in the surface waters of the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas during 2018-05-20 to 2018-06-15.
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: Caldwell, Jessica; Petri-Fink, Alke; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara; Lehner, Roman (2023). Estimations of floating microplastics and mesoplastics in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas collected from 2018-05-20 to 2018-06-15 (NCEI Accession 0279322). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0279322. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors	Caldwell, Jessica Petri-Fink, Alke Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara Lehner, Roman Sail and Explore Association
Contributors	University of Fribourg
Resource Providers	Roman Lehner Sail and Explore Association Sail and Explore Association
Points of Contact	Ebenezer Nyadjro Mississippi State University; Northern Gulf Institute (NGI)
Publishers	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information

Theme keywords	NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS microplastic concentration NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS in situ laboratory analyses 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 University of Fribourg NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Sail and Explore Association
Instrument keywords	NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer Manta net microscope Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords FTIR SPECTROMETER > Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer MICROSCOPES > MICROSCOPES NETS > NETS
Place keywords	NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Ligurian Sea Mediterranean Sea Tyrrhenian Sea Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > MEDITERRANEAN SEA
Keywords	NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 0279322

Use Constraints	Cite as: Caldwell, Jessica; Petri-Fink, Alke; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara; Lehner, Roman (2023). Estimations of floating microplastics and mesoplastics in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas collected from 2018-05-20 to 2018-06-15 (NCEI Accession 0279322). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0279322. 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	2023-06-23T15:28:52Z - NCEI Accession 0279322 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets	NCEI Accession 0279322 v1.1 NCEI Accession 0279322 v1.1 (download) published 2023-06-23T15:28:52Z

Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps	Parameter or Variable: microplastic concentration (measured); Units: pieces/km2; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Manta net; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Surface samples were collected in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Sea using a manta trawl (330 μm mesh; 16 × 61 cm frame opening) that was towed on the water surface for 30–60 min at 1.5–3 knots on either starboard or port side. A spinnaker pole was used to position the trawl outside the wake of the vessel and to avoid loss of samples due to downwelling of debris. The outer side of the net was rinsed with fresh water to ensure that the entire sample was washed into the collecting bag fixed at the end of the net. This sample was emptied over a metal sieve with a mesh size of 300 μm. Plastic particles which could be visually detected in the metal sieve were collected using laboratory tweezers. In addition, saltwater, filtered through a sieve with a mesh size of 0.1 mm, was added into sample containers, which separated the plastic particles from the preserved natural material according to their density. Floating plastic particles at the surface were removed for further studies. Sorting of the material was conducted using a dissecting stereo microscope (Leica) and laboratory tweezers to hand pick the plastics, which were then transferred to 50 ml Falcon tubes. All samples were double checked by two crew members to ensure detection of all the particles.; Data Quality Method: To prevent contamination, samples remained in sealed containers until their handling was necessary and cotton lab coats and latex gloves were worn during the handling. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy ATR FT-IR) was utilized to identify the composition of 140 representative particles (78 fragments, 24 films, 17 lines, 11 pellets, 10 foams). A Perkin Elmer Spectrum 65 FT-IR Spectrometer equipped with a Perkin Elmer universal attenuated total reflection (UATR) accessory and pressure arm was used to collect a combination of 10 spectra from 4000 cm−1 to 650 cm−1 for each particle. The resulting spectra were analyzed with the accompanying Perkin Elmer software and compared to the pristine polymer FT-IR spectra found in the Fluka library..

Lineage information for: dataset

Processing Steps

Parameter or Variable: microplastic concentration (measured); Units: pieces/km2; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Manta net; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Surface samples were collected in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Sea using a manta trawl (330 μm mesh; 16 × 61 cm frame opening) that was towed on the water surface for 30–60 min at 1.5–3 knots on either starboard or port side. A spinnaker pole was used to position the trawl outside the wake of the vessel and to avoid loss of samples due to downwelling of debris. The outer side of the net was rinsed with fresh water to ensure that the entire sample was washed into the collecting bag fixed at the end of the net. This sample was emptied over a metal sieve with a mesh size of 300 μm. Plastic particles which could be visually detected in the metal sieve were collected using laboratory tweezers. In addition, saltwater, filtered through a sieve with a mesh size of 0.1 mm, was added into sample containers, which separated the plastic particles from the preserved natural material according to their density. Floating plastic particles at the surface were removed for further studies. Sorting of the material was conducted using a dissecting stereo microscope (Leica) and laboratory tweezers to hand pick the plastics, which were then transferred to 50 ml Falcon tubes. All samples were double checked by two crew members to ensure detection of all the particles.; Data Quality Method: To prevent contamination, samples remained in sealed containers until their handling was necessary and cotton lab coats and latex gloves were worn during the handling. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy ATR FT-IR) was utilized to identify the composition of 140 representative particles (78 fragments, 24 films, 17 lines, 11 pellets, 10 foams). A Perkin Elmer Spectrum 65 FT-IR Spectrometer equipped with a Perkin Elmer universal attenuated total reflection (UATR) accessory and pressure arm was used to collect a combination of 10 spectra from 4000 cm−1 to 650 cm−1 for each particle. The resulting spectra were analyzed with the accompanying Perkin Elmer software and compared to the pristine polymer FT-IR spectra found in the Fluka library..

Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument	Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer Manta net microscope

Last Modified: 2023-06-25T17:03:43Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov

Estimations of floating microplastics and mesoplastics in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas collected from 2018-05-20 to 2018-06-15 (NCEI Accession 0279322)

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