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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Microplastics concentration collected from SV Sea Dragon in the South Pacific subtropical gyre from 2011-03-28 to 2011-04-21 (NCEI Accession 0276017)

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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 South Pacific subtropical gyre. Microplastics data were collected with manta nets during an expedition that occurred between 2011-03-28 to 2011-04-21. This dataset contains the results from all 48 sampling stations, in a spreadsheet format.
  • Cite as: Eriksen, Marcus; Maximenko, Nikolai; Thiel, Martin; Cummins, Anna; Lattin, Gwen; Wilson, Stiv; Hafner, Jan; Zellers, Ann; Rifman, Samuel (2022). Microplastics concentration collected from SV Sea Dragon in the South Pacific subtropical gyre from 2011-03-28 to 2011-04-21 (NCEI Accession 0276017). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0276017. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:0276017
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  • Excel
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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 2011-03-28 to 2011-04-21
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -126.6168
East: -81.2382
South: -33.1342
North: -24.4952
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.
  • Eriksen M, Maximenko N, Thiel M, Cummins A, Lattin G, Wilson S, Hafner J, Zellers A, Rifman S. Plastic pollution in the South Pacific subtropical gyre. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 2013 Mar 15;68:71-76.
    • Parent ID (indicates this dataset is related to other data):
    • gov.noaa.nodc:NCEI-Marine-Microplastics
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2022-12-14
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: 4520RA
Purpose These data were collected in order to determine the microplastics concentrations in the South Pacific subtropical gyre during 2011-03-28 to 2011-04-21
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: Eriksen, Marcus; Maximenko, Nikolai; Thiel, Martin; Cummins, Anna; Lattin, Gwen; Wilson, Stiv; Hafner, Jan; Zellers, Ann; Rifman, Samuel (2022). Microplastics concentration collected from SV Sea Dragon in the South Pacific subtropical gyre from 2011-03-28 to 2011-04-21 (NCEI Accession 0276017). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0276017. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Contributors
Resource Providers
Points of Contact
Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • Related Funding Agency: NASA OSTST Grant NNX08AR49G
  • Related Funding Agency: NASA Grant NNX07AG53G
  • Related Funding Agency: NOAA Grant NA17RJ1230
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
Platform keywords NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords ICES/SeaDataNet Ship Codes Provider Platform Names
  • SV Sea Dragon
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
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Eriksen, Marcus; Maximenko, Nikolai; Thiel, Martin; Cummins, Anna; Lattin, Gwen; Wilson, Stiv; Hafner, Jan; Zellers, Ann; Rifman, Samuel (2022). Microplastics concentration collected from SV Sea Dragon in the South Pacific subtropical gyre from 2011-03-28 to 2011-04-21 (NCEI Accession 0276017). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0276017. 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
  • 2022-12-14T21:02:26Z - NCEI Accession 0276017 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: To explore the presence and distribution of plastic pollution in the eastern South Pacific, an expedition on the sailing vessel Sea Dragon was organized and carried out by the 5 Gyres Institute. The expedition started from Valdivia, Chile and sailed to Pitcairn Island. 48 neuston samples were collected along a single transect from Robinson Crusoe Island to Pitcairn Island in the South Pacific Ocean. Samples were collected using a manta trawl with a rectangular opening of 16 cm high by 61 cm wide, and a 3 m long 333 µm net with a 30 × 10 cm2 collecting bag. The net was towed along the surface on the starboard side using a spinnaker pole to position the towline outside the wake of the vessel. The trawl speed, though kept constant throughout each individual trawl, ranged between 0.5 and 1.5 ms-1, as measured by the onboard knotmeter. The duration of the trawl was kept to 60 min using a stopwatch. Samples were fixed in 5% formalin. The samples were later rinsed in salt water, which floated most of the plastic to the surface for removal. Using a dissecting microscope, plastic was removed from preserved natural material, and then sorted by rinsing through Tyler sieves. Individual pieces of plastic were then counted.; Data Quality Method: The slow tow speed and the washing of the net between the tows when needed provided sufficient confidence that any variation in sample collection efficiency due to the net size, difference in tow speed or tow time were negligible..
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • Manta net
Platform
  • USS Sea Dragon
Last Modified: 2023-08-06T22:17:36Z
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