Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Surface microplastics concentration collected from MV Maersk Transporter in the North Pacific Ocean from 2018-11-01 to 2018-12-04 (NCEI Accession 0276266)

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This study was carried out to estimate the surface microplastics (plastics from size 0.5mm to 5mm, reported in unit of pieces/m^3) concentration in the North Pacific Ocean. Microplastics data was collected from 2018-11-01 to 2018-12-04 aboard MV Maersk Transporter, using a manta net. This dataset contains the results from all 16 sampling efforts, in a spreadsheet format.

Dataset Citation

Cite as: Egger, Matthias; Sulu-Gambari, Fatimah; Lebreton, Laurent (2023). Surface microplastics concentration collected from MV Maersk Transporter in the North Pacific Ocean from 2018-11-01 to 2018-12-04 (NCEI Accession 0276266). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0276266. Accessed [date].

Dataset Identifiers

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

gov.noaa.nodc:0276266

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	2018-11-01 to 2018-12-04
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates	West: -151.9 East: -123.31 South: 25.14 North: 31.55
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, Sulu-Gambari F, Lebreton L. First evidence of plastic fallout from the North Pacific Garbage Patch. Scientific Reports. 2020 May 6;10:7495
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-64465-8
  journal article

gov.noaa.nodc:NCEI-Marine-Microplastics

Publication Dates	publication: 2023-01-11
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: EFD6MK
Purpose	These data were collected in order to determine the surface microplastics concentrations in the North Pacific Ocean during 2018-11-01 to 2018-12-04
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; Sulu-Gambari, Fatimah; Lebreton, Laurent (2023). Surface microplastics concentration collected from MV Maersk Transporter in the North Pacific Ocean from 2018-11-01 to 2018-12-04 (NCEI Accession 0276266). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0276266. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors	Egger, Matthias The Ocean Cleanup Sulu-Gambari, Fatimah Lebreton, Laurent
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 0276266

Use Constraints	Cite as: Egger, Matthias; Sulu-Gambari, Fatimah; Lebreton, Laurent (2023). Surface microplastics concentration collected from MV Maersk Transporter in the North Pacific Ocean from 2018-11-01 to 2018-12-04 (NCEI Accession 0276266). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0276266. 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	2023-01-11T19:17:08Z - NCEI Accession 0276266 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets	NCEI Accession 0276266 v1.1 NCEI Accession 0276266 v1.1 (download) published 2023-01-11T19:17:08Z

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 along a gradient cruise transect from Honolulu (Hawaii, USA) to Rosarito (Mexico). Manta trawl (Ocean Instruments, Inc.) was deployed from the starboard crane to collect data on plastic concentrations in the surface waters. The Manta trawl mouth area was 90 cm ×15 cm (width x height) and the net mesh size was 500 μm (square mesh). Each trawl lasted approximately 30 min and sampled water volumes were recorded using a mechanical flow meter (General Oceanics, Inc.). After each deployment, the net was rinsed from the outside with freshwater and the single-use cod-end (333 μm mesh size) removed, sealed with staples, placed in individual zip-lock bags, wrapped in aluminum foil and stored frozen (−20 °C) until further analysis in the onshore laboratory. All samples were analyzed using the same analytical protocol as previously published literature to enable comparability with previous research in the North Pacific Ocean. Briefly, each Manta trawl sample was thawed then washed into a sieve tower comprising four round stainless-steel sieves (diameter: 29 cm; mesh sizes: 15 mm, 5 mm, 1.5 mm and 0.5 mm, all square). The individual sieves were then placed into round aluminum tins (356 mm diameter, 76 mm height) filled with filtered seawater (< 1 μm) from the North Pacific Ocean. Multiple LED lights were placed over the sieves from various angles to ensure good lighting conditions, which is particularly important for detecting small microplastics. Subsequently, all particles were identified with the naked eye and hand-picked individually using stainless-steel tweezers. The widest particle dimension was measured with a ruler. Once counted and categorized, the plastic objects were washed with water purified by reverse osmosis, transferred to aluminum dishes, dried at 65 °C for 3.45 h, and weighed using an OHAUS Explorer EX324M scale. Considering that most fragments > 500 μm are visible to the naked eye using good light conditions and that plastic microfibers were not part of the scope of our study, it is unlikely that a significant fraction of non-microfiber microplastics > 500 μm was missed using the methods applied here.; Data Quality Method: The particles extracted from the Manta trawl samples were analyzed using Raman spectroscopy (Agiltron, Inc., PeakSeeker PEK-785) to identify the corresponding plastic polymer types. If the number of particles per size class and type category exceeded 10 pieces, a random subset of 10 particles was analyzed. In total, 305 particles were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy and the sample spectra subsequently compared to an in-house Raman plastic reference library. The latter was built by analyzing plastic samples from household items with a known polymer composition on the same Raman spectroscope, covering the main polymer types accumulating in the marine environment. Furthermore, spectra were collected for paint samples from the vessel and trawling equipment, as well as for the Manta trawl nylon nets in order to rule out possible contamination with particles from these materials. For 26 particles, no conclusive Raman spectra were obtained, mostly because these particles were black in color resulting in strong absorption of the Raman laser and subsequent burning of the particle surface. These 26 particles were further analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (Thermo Scientific; Nicolet 6700 FTIR) at Utrecht University..

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 along a gradient cruise transect from Honolulu (Hawaii, USA) to Rosarito (Mexico). Manta trawl (Ocean Instruments, Inc.) was deployed from the starboard crane to collect data on plastic concentrations in the surface waters. The Manta trawl mouth area was 90 cm ×15 cm (width x height) and the net mesh size was 500 μm (square mesh). Each trawl lasted approximately 30 min and sampled water volumes were recorded using a mechanical flow meter (General Oceanics, Inc.). After each deployment, the net was rinsed from the outside with freshwater and the single-use cod-end (333 μm mesh size) removed, sealed with staples, placed in individual zip-lock bags, wrapped in aluminum foil and stored frozen (−20 °C) until further analysis in the onshore laboratory. All samples were analyzed using the same analytical protocol as previously published literature to enable comparability with previous research in the North Pacific Ocean. Briefly, each Manta trawl sample was thawed then washed into a sieve tower comprising four round stainless-steel sieves (diameter: 29 cm; mesh sizes: 15 mm, 5 mm, 1.5 mm and 0.5 mm, all square). The individual sieves were then placed into round aluminum tins (356 mm diameter, 76 mm height) filled with filtered seawater (< 1 μm) from the North Pacific Ocean. Multiple LED lights were placed over the sieves from various angles to ensure good lighting conditions, which is particularly important for detecting small microplastics. Subsequently, all particles were identified with the naked eye and hand-picked individually using stainless-steel tweezers. The widest particle dimension was measured with a ruler. Once counted and categorized, the plastic objects were washed with water purified by reverse osmosis, transferred to aluminum dishes, dried at 65 °C for 3.45 h, and weighed using an OHAUS Explorer EX324M scale. Considering that most fragments > 500 μm are visible to the naked eye using good light conditions and that plastic microfibers were not part of the scope of our study, it is unlikely that a significant fraction of non-microfiber microplastics > 500 μm was missed using the methods applied here.; Data Quality Method: The particles extracted from the Manta trawl samples were analyzed using Raman spectroscopy (Agiltron, Inc., PeakSeeker PEK-785) to identify the corresponding plastic polymer types. If the number of particles per size class and type category exceeded 10 pieces, a random subset of 10 particles was analyzed. In total, 305 particles were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy and the sample spectra subsequently compared to an in-house Raman plastic reference library. The latter was built by analyzing plastic samples from household items with a known polymer composition on the same Raman spectroscope, covering the main polymer types accumulating in the marine environment. Furthermore, spectra were collected for paint samples from the vessel and trawling equipment, as well as for the Manta trawl nylon nets in order to rule out possible contamination with particles from these materials. For 26 particles, no conclusive Raman spectra were obtained, mostly because these particles were black in color resulting in strong absorption of the Raman laser and subsequent burning of the particle surface. These 26 particles were further analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (Thermo Scientific; Nicolet 6700 FTIR) at Utrecht University..

Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument	Manta net

Last Modified: 2023-05-12T15:33:09Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov

Surface microplastics concentration collected from MV Maersk Transporter in the North Pacific Ocean from 2018-11-01 to 2018-12-04 (NCEI Accession 0276266)

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