Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Floating microplastics concentration collected from MV Maersk Transporter in the eastern North Pacific Ocean from 2015-08-02 to 2019-12-09 (NCEI Accession 0276263)

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This study was carried out to estimate the floating microplastics (plastics from size 0.5mm to 5mm, reported in unit of pieces/m^3) concentration in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. Microplastics data was collected from 2015-08-02 to 2019-12-09 aboard MV Maersk Transporter, using a manta net. This dataset contains the results from all 54 sampling efforts, in a spreadsheet format.

Dataset Citation

Cite as: Egger, Matthias; Quiros, Lauren; Leone, Giulia; Ferrari, Francesco; Boerger, Christiana; Tishler, Michelle (2023). Floating microplastics concentration collected from MV Maersk Transporter in the eastern North Pacific Ocean from 2015-08-02 to 2019-12-09 (NCEI Accession 0276263). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0276263. Accessed [date].

Dataset Identifiers

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

gov.noaa.nodc:0276263

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	2015-08-02 to 2019-12-09
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates	West: -148.904 East: -129.009 South: 24.408 North: 45.7806667
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.
Egger M, Quiros L, Leone G, Ferrari F, Boerger CM, Tishler M. Relative Abundance of Floating Plastic Debris and Neuston in the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. Frontiers in Marine Science. 2021 Jun 3;8:626026.
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.626026
  journal article

gov.noaa.nodc:NCEI-Marine-Microplastics

Publication Dates	publication: 2023-01-12
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: 3JK15T
Purpose	These data were collected in order to determine the surface microplastics concentrations in the eastern North Pacific Ocean during 2015-08-02 to 2019-12-09
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: Egger, Matthias; Quiros, Lauren; Leone, Giulia; Ferrari, Francesco; Boerger, Christiana; Tishler, Michelle (2023). Floating microplastics concentration collected from MV Maersk Transporter in the eastern North Pacific Ocean from 2015-08-02 to 2019-12-09 (NCEI Accession 0276263). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0276263. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors	Egger, Matthias The Ocean Cleanup Quiros, Lauren Leone, Giulia Ferrari, Francesco Boerger, Christiana Tishler, Michelle
Contributors	The Ocean Cleanup
Resource Providers	Matthias Egger The Ocean Cleanup The Ocean Cleanup
Points of Contact	Ebenezer Nyadjro Mississippi State University (MSU)
Publishers	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Acknowledgments	Related Funding Agency: The Ocean Cleanup Foundation

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 The Ocean Cleanup NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS The Ocean Cleanup
Platform keywords	Provider Platform Names MV Maersk Transporter
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 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
Keywords	NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 0276263

Use Constraints	Cite as: Egger, Matthias; Quiros, Lauren; Leone, Giulia; Ferrari, Francesco; Boerger, Christiana; Tishler, Michelle (2023). Floating microplastics concentration collected from MV Maersk Transporter in the eastern North Pacific Ocean from 2015-08-02 to 2019-12-09 (NCEI Accession 0276263). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0276263. 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	2023-01-12T16:12:53Z - NCEI Accession 0276263 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets	NCEI Accession 0276263 v1.1 NCEI Accession 0276263 v1.1 (download) published 2023-01-12T16:12:53Z

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: Surface microplastics (from size 0.5mm to 5mm) concentrations were collected onboard MV Maersk Transporter in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. This study is based on 54 Manta trawl samples collected in the eastern North Pacific Ocean during two expeditions between August 2015 and December 2019. A total of 9 Manta trawls (Ocean Instruments, Inc.) were conducted in August 2015. The Manta trawl, with an aperture of 90 cm × 15 cm (width × height) and a square mesh net of 500 µm (333 µm mesh size cod-end), was deployed for 60–180 min at a towing speed of <3 knots. A further 45 Manta trawls were conducted for 30 min at a towing speed of <2.5 knots in November-December 2019. Sampled water volumes were estimated based on distance measurements from a mechanical flow meter (General Oceanics, Inc.) multiplied by the net mouth area. After each deployment, the net was rinsed from the outside with freshwater and the entire cod-end removed, sealed with staples, placed in individual zip-lock bags, wrapped in aluminum foil and stored frozen until further analysis in the onshore laboratory of The Ocean Cleanup in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The content of each sample was washed into a stainless-steel sieve (500 µm square mesh, 29 cm diameter). The sieve was then placed separately into round aluminum tins (30 cm diameter) filled with filtered seawater (<1 mm) from the North Pacific Ocean (salinity 35). Multiple LED lights were placed over the sieve from various angles to ensure good light conditions, which is particularly important for detecting small microplastics and organisms. Subsequently, floating objects and particles attached to biomass identified as buoyant anthropogenic debris were hand-picked individually with the naked eye using stainless-steel tweezers. The widest particle dimension was measured with a ruler.; Data Quality Method: To minimize contamination with plastic fragments, standard non-plastic laboratory, and fieldwork equipment made of metal and glass were used whenever possible, and the samples always remained covered with aluminum foil when not in use. Furthermore, all nets and all cod-ends were thoroughly rinsed from the outside prior to each deployment and carefully inspected for the presence of (micro)plastic particles. The seawater (taken from the North Pacific Ocean) used in the laboratory was filtered through a sequence of filters (<20, <5, <1 mm) and all laboratory equipment (sieves, tweezers, aluminum tins, and dishes) was thoroughly rinsed and carefully inspected for cleanliness prior to each use. Note that we did not include any microfibers in our analyses, as these fibers typically pass through the 500 µm trawling nets deployed here. Thus, possible contamination with airborne fibers (a major source of microplastic contamination) does not impact our results. Consequently, the work was performed outside a glove box or laminar flow cabinet..

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: Surface microplastics (from size 0.5mm to 5mm) concentrations were collected onboard MV Maersk Transporter in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. This study is based on 54 Manta trawl samples collected in the eastern North Pacific Ocean during two expeditions between August 2015 and December 2019. A total of 9 Manta trawls (Ocean Instruments, Inc.) were conducted in August 2015. The Manta trawl, with an aperture of 90 cm × 15 cm (width × height) and a square mesh net of 500 µm (333 µm mesh size cod-end), was deployed for 60–180 min at a towing speed of <3 knots. A further 45 Manta trawls were conducted for 30 min at a towing speed of <2.5 knots in November-December 2019. Sampled water volumes were estimated based on distance measurements from a mechanical flow meter (General Oceanics, Inc.) multiplied by the net mouth area. After each deployment, the net was rinsed from the outside with freshwater and the entire cod-end removed, sealed with staples, placed in individual zip-lock bags, wrapped in aluminum foil and stored frozen until further analysis in the onshore laboratory of The Ocean Cleanup in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The content of each sample was washed into a stainless-steel sieve (500 µm square mesh, 29 cm diameter). The sieve was then placed separately into round aluminum tins (30 cm diameter) filled with filtered seawater (<1 mm) from the North Pacific Ocean (salinity 35). Multiple LED lights were placed over the sieve from various angles to ensure good light conditions, which is particularly important for detecting small microplastics and organisms. Subsequently, floating objects and particles attached to biomass identified as buoyant anthropogenic debris were hand-picked individually with the naked eye using stainless-steel tweezers. The widest particle dimension was measured with a ruler.; Data Quality Method: To minimize contamination with plastic fragments, standard non-plastic laboratory, and fieldwork equipment made of metal and glass were used whenever possible, and the samples always remained covered with aluminum foil when not in use. Furthermore, all nets and all cod-ends were thoroughly rinsed from the outside prior to each deployment and carefully inspected for the presence of (micro)plastic particles. The seawater (taken from the North Pacific Ocean) used in the laboratory was filtered through a sequence of filters (<20, <5, <1 mm) and all laboratory equipment (sieves, tweezers, aluminum tins, and dishes) was thoroughly rinsed and carefully inspected for cleanliness prior to each use. Note that we did not include any microfibers in our analyses, as these fibers typically pass through the 500 µm trawling nets deployed here. Thus, possible contamination with airborne fibers (a major source of microplastic contamination) does not impact our results. Consequently, the work was performed outside a glove box or laminar flow cabinet..

Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument	Manta net

Last Modified: 2023-05-12T15:33:12Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov

Floating microplastics concentration collected from MV Maersk Transporter in the eastern North Pacific Ocean from 2015-08-02 to 2019-12-09 (NCEI Accession 0276263)

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