Skip to main content
Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Floating microplastics abundance in the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean Sea) from 2013-07-06 to 2013-08-06 (NCEI Accession 0270520)

browse graphicPreview graphic
This study estimated the load of floating microplastics (i.e. plastics less than 5mm, reported in unit of pieces/m^3) abundance at 33 sites in the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean Sea) from 2013-07-06 to 2013-08-06. Microplastics data were collected using manta net, towed at the top 10 cm of the sea surface with an average speed of 2.5 knots for 60 minutes. This dataset contains the results from all surface net tows, in a spreadsheet format.
  • Cite as: Pedrotti, Maria Luiza; Petit, Stéphanie; Elineau, Amanda; Bruzaud, Stéphane; Crebassa, Jean-Claude; Dumontet, Bruno; Martí, Elisa; Gorsky, Gabriel; Cózar, Andrés (2022). Floating microplastics abundance in the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean Sea) from 2013-07-06 to 2013-08-06 (NCEI Accession 0270520). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0270520. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:0270520
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 2013-07-06 to 2013-08-06
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: 5.9242
East: 8.9306
South: 42.5748
North: 44.4099
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • The NOAA NCEI Global Marine Microplastics Database (1972-present)
    • NCEI Collection
      Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download.
  • Pedrotti MK, Petit S, Elineau A, Bruzaud S, Crebassa J-C, Dumontet B, Marti E, Gorsky G, Cozar A. Changes in the Floating Plastic Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea in Relation to the Distance to Land. PLOS ONE. 2016 Aug 24;11(8):e0161581.
    • Parent ID (indicates this dataset is related to other data):
    • gov.noaa.nodc:NCEI-Marine-Microplastics
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2022-11-23
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: KXW1J8
Purpose These data were collected in order to determine the floating microplastics concentrations in the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean Sea).
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: Pedrotti, Maria Luiza; Petit, Stéphanie; Elineau, Amanda; Bruzaud, Stéphane; Crebassa, Jean-Claude; Dumontet, Bruno; Martí, Elisa; Gorsky, Gabriel; Cózar, Andrés (2022). Floating microplastics abundance in the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean Sea) from 2013-07-06 to 2013-08-06 (NCEI Accession 0270520). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0270520. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Contributors
Resource Providers
Points of Contact
Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • Related Funding Agency: French GDF Suez Foundation
  • Related Funding Agency: European Union Framework Program 7 MedSeA (EU contract number FP7-2010-265103)
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords Provider Place Names
  • NW Mediterranean Sea
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Pedrotti, Maria Luiza; Petit, Stéphanie; Elineau, Amanda; Bruzaud, Stéphane; Crebassa, Jean-Claude; Dumontet, Bruno; Martí, Elisa; Gorsky, Gabriel; Cózar, Andrés (2022). Floating microplastics abundance in the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean Sea) from 2013-07-06 to 2013-08-06 (NCEI Accession 0270520). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0270520. 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
  • 2022-11-23T16:40:57Z - NCEI Accession 0270520 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
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 plastic debris were sampled from July 6th 2013 to August 6th 2013. Sampling was carried out at a total of 33 sites across the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean Sea), with distances to land ranging from 0.3 to 46 km. Fifty four percent of the sampling sites were within the 1-km water strip adjacent to the mainland coast. Samples were collected using a Manta trawl net with 333 μm mesh size with a rectangular net opening of 60 x 20 cm. The net was towed at the top 10 cm of the sea surface with an average speed of 2.5 knots during 60 min, corresponding to an average covered area of 3000 m2 per tow and an average filtered volume of 371 m3. Net tows were always carried out in calm sea conditions, with Beaufort Sea State varying from 0 to 2, in order to minimize the effect of the wind-induced vertical mixing of the floating plastic debris. In the lab, samples were gently mixed and transferred into a 2 L glass jar. Floating plastic debris was carefully picked from the supernatant. This process was repeated 3 to 6 times to ensure the removal of all of the smallest floating plastic particles. Plastic items were counted, and measured by imaging analysis using the Zooscan system. Firstly, they were digitally imaged with a Zooscan digital scanner with a resolution of 2400 dpi; each pixel is about 10 microns wide. Image post-processing was performed with the Zooprocess software that gives a set of morphological parameters for each object, including ferret diameter (i.e. the maximal distance between any two points along the boundary of the object) and surface area (mm).; Data Quality Method: A total of 407 plastic items were randomly extracted from 28 manta tows to identify their chemical structure by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra, using a FTIR spectrometer (Shimadzu 8400 M) with 4 cm-1 resolution and 40 scans. All spectra were recorded in the absorbance mode in the 4000–600 cm-1 region. Each sample was put onto the diamond cell and compressed between two plates into a thin uniform thickness enough to allow for adequate transmission of IR beam through the sample to the detector and resulting in a better-quality spectrum. FT-IR spectra of the plastic samples were compared with spectra of known plastics to identify polyacrylics (PAA), polyamides (PA), styrenics (homopolystyrene (PS), PS-based copolymers or PS foams) and polymers belonging to the family of the polyolefins, including polyethylene (PE), propylene (PP) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)..
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • Manta net
Last Modified: 2023-08-07T01:31:53Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov