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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

The NOAA NCEI Global Marine Microplastics Database (1972-present)

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Microplastics (i.e., plastics measuring less than 5mm) pollution is a growing problem affecting coastal communities, marine ecosystems, aquatic life, and human health. The widespread occurrence of marine microplastics, and the need to curb its threats, require expansive, and continuous monitoring. While microplastic research has increased in recent years and generated significant volumes of data, there is a lack of a robust, open access, and long-term aggregation of this data. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) marine microplastic data collection provides a global open access to marine microplastic data on an easily discoverable and accessible GIS web map and data portal (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/microplastics). The objective of this data portal is to develop a repository where microplastics data are aggregated, archived, and served in a user friendly, consistent, and reliable manner. This work contributes to NCEI’s efforts towards data standardization, integration, harmonization, and interoperability among national and international collaborators for monitoring global marine microplastics.
  • Cite as: Nyadjro, Ebenezer; Webster, Jennifer; Boyer, Tim P.; Cebrian, Just; Collazo, Leonard; Kaltenberger, Gunnar; Larsen, Kirsten; Lau, Yee; Mickle, Paul; Toft, Tiffany; Wang, Zhankun (2018). The NOAA NCEI Global Marine Microplastics Database (1972-present). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/NCEI-Marine-Microplastics. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:NCEI-Marine-Microplastics
Search Data
  • Granule Search (search)
    Search for data granules belonging to this collection (a granule is the smallest aggregation of data that can be independently described and retrieved).
Distribution Formats
  • Originator data format
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 1972-04-20 to Present
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -180
East: 180
South: -72
North: 90
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • Nyadjro, E. S., Webster, J. A. B., Boyer, T. P., Cebrian, J., Collazo, L., Kaltenberger, G., Larsen, K., Lau, Y. H., Mickle, P., Toft, T., & Wang, Z. (2023). The NOAA NCEI marine microplastics database. Scientific Data, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02632-y
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2018-04-11
  • revision: 2024-05-29
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Ongoing - data is continually being updated
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Supplemental Information
Data in this collection has been kindly and freely provided by researchers and institutions from across the world and contains data from April 1972 and ongoing.
Purpose To provide a robust, open access, and long-term aggregation of marine microplastics data.
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: Nyadjro, Ebenezer; Webster, Jennifer; Boyer, Tim P.; Cebrian, Just; Collazo, Leonard; Kaltenberger, Gunnar; Larsen, Kirsten; Lau, Yee; Mickle, Paul; Toft, Tiffany; Wang, Zhankun (2018). The NOAA NCEI Global Marine Microplastics Database (1972-present). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/NCEI-Marine-Microplastics. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Contributors
Resource Providers
Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • Data contributed by several researchers and institutions from across the globe.
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
Funding
  • NOAA RESTORE Science Program Award NA17NOS4510099
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords NCCOS Research Data Type
  • NCCOS Research Data Type > Field Observation
NCCOS Sponsored Research
  • NCCOS Sponsored Research > RESTORE Science Program
Provider Keywords
  • Adventure Scientists-Global Microplastic volunteer initiative
  • Fish Diet Analysis
  • Fish Gut Analysis
  • Fisheries
  • Microplastic Concentration
  • Microplastic Ingestion
  • Microplastics
  • Pelagic Habitat
  • Pelagic Sargassum
  • Plastic
  • Surface Plastic Debris
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Platform keywords NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords ICES/SeaDataNet Ship Codes Provider Platform Names
  • AKADEMIK TRYOSHNIKOV (call sign UBXH3 - ICES code RUB3)
  • Angeles Alvarino (call sign EASE - ICES code 29AJ)
  • Comac Enterprise
  • Dongfeng Race Team
  • MRV Alba na Mara
  • MRV Scotia
  • MS “Malippo”
  • MV Maersk Launcher
  • MV Maersk Transporter
  • Mapfre
  • NEW HORIZON (call sign WKWB - ICES code 32NM)
  • ORV Alguita
  • Okeanos Explorer (call sign WTDH - ICES code 334A)
  • R/V Aegeao
  • R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh
  • R/V Cap’n Bert
  • R/V Filia
  • R/V Kiya
  • R/V Mediterranean Explorer
  • R/V Tara
  • R/V Xuelong
  • ROVs
  • RRS Discovery
  • RV Celtic Explorer
  • RV IV Lluerna
  • RV Orion
  • RV Pelagia
  • RV Polarstern
  • RV Professor Kaganovskiy
  • RV Sir John Murray
  • RV Stad Amsterdam
  • RV XIANG YANG HONG 03
  • S.A. AGULHAS II (call sign ZSNO - ICES code 91AH)
  • SV Mir
  • SV Rainbow Warrior
  • SV Sea Dragon
  • Sun Hung Kai Scallywag
  • Team AkzoNobel
  • Team Brunel
  • Turn the Tide on Plastic
  • Vestas 11th Hour Racing
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords Provider Instrument Types
  • CTD: Idronaut Ocean Seven 304Plus, (Temperatur, Salinität)
  • Chla: Trios MicroFlu (TTOP Leg 0 till 7, AN Leg 9 till 11) or Trios NanoFlu (TTOP Leg 8 till 12, AN Leg 7; due to swapped systems in Itajaí)
  • Ocean Pack
  • pCO2: Licor 840-A
Provider Instruments
  • 1-L sample bottle
  • Aluminum bucket
  • Day grab
  • Dip Net
  • Dissecting Microscope
  • Ekman dredge
  • Hand picking
  • Intake seawater pump
  • Kubiena box
  • Manta net
  • Manta net, Neuston net, AVANI net (All-purpose Velocity Accelerated Net Instrument)
  • Megacorer
  • Metal scoop
  • Metal spoon
  • Net tow
  • Net tows
  • Neuston
  • Neuston net
  • Neuston net; Manta net
  • PVC cylinder
  • Petite Ponar benthic grab
  • Purse seine net
  • Remotely operated vehicle
  • Sabiki hook and line fishing
  • Sediment grab sampler
  • Shipek grab sampler
  • Stainless steel bucket
  • Stainless steel spoon
  • Surface water intake
  • Trowel
  • Van Dorn sampler
  • Van Veen grab
  • Van Veen grab sampler
  • Water pump
  • bottom trawling
  • glass jar
  • hand collection
  • handpicking
  • longline with hooks
  • polycarbonate bottles
  • quadrat
  • shovel
  • stainless steel sampler
  • stainless-steel spatula
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords NCCOS Research Location
  • NCCOS Research Location > Region > Gulf of Mexico
Provider Place Names
  • Alaska
  • Atlantic Ocean
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Beibu Gulf
  • Brazil
  • Bulgarian Black Sea
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Columbia
  • Costa Rica
  • Dominican Republic
  • East-Siberian Sea
  • Eastern Mediterranean Sea
  • Eastern Pacific Ocean
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • France
  • Gabes Gulf
  • Galápagos
  • Global
  • Global Ocean
  • Great Barrier Reef
  • Greece
  • Guatemela
  • Gulf of Lion
  • Gulf of Venice
  • Kenya
  • Kuroshio Current
  • Laptev Sea
  • Levantine Sea
  • Manila Bay
  • Mexico
  • NW Mediterranean Sea
  • Narragansett Bay
  • New Zealand
  • North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre
  • North-West Mediterranean Sea
  • Northwest Pacific
  • Northwestern Mediterranean Sea
  • Pacific Ocean
  • Playa Grande beach: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
  • San Francisco Bay
  • Saronikos Gulf
  • Scotland
  • Sri Lanka
  • Taiwan
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Western Mediterranean
  • Western North Pacific Ocean
Project keywords Provider Project Names
  • Adventure Scientists Microplastic Data
  • Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition
  • European Commission IDEM
  • Exzellenzcluster Proposal CP1756, Volvo Ocean Race
  • Global Change and Air-sea Interaction II (GASI-01-NPAC-STsum)
  • I-MarCat
  • Italian Antarctic Research Program (PNRA, 30th Antarctic Expedition)
  • NUREIEV
  • Plastics in the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre
  • RESTORE Project- Linking habitat to recruitment: evaluating the importance of pelagic Sargassum to fisheries management in the Gulf of Mexico
  • Red BAMAR
  • Research on the Marine Chemistry and Sedimentary Environment Baseline in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (No.DY135-E2-5-02)
  • Scripps Environmental Accumulation of Plastic Expedition (SEAPLEX)
  • Surface plastic debris in the eastern Pacific Ocean
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Nyadjro, Ebenezer; Webster, Jennifer; Boyer, Tim P.; Cebrian, Just; Collazo, Leonard; Kaltenberger, Gunnar; Larsen, Kirsten; Lau, Yee; Mickle, Paul; Toft, Tiffany; Wang, Zhankun (2018). The NOAA NCEI Global Marine Microplastics Database (1972-present). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/NCEI-Marine-Microplastics. Accessed [date].
Data License
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: series
Processing Steps
  • 2018-04-11T17:15:17Z - NCEI Accession 0170967 v1.1 was published.
  • 2018-05-23T09:49:18Z - NCEI Accession 0170967 was revised and v2.2 was published.
  • 2018-06-20T17:52:47Z - NCEI Accession 0170967 was revised and v3.3 was published.
  • 2019-02-20T17:36:19Z - NCEI Accession 0170967 was revised and v4.4 was published.
  • 2020-07-10T18:59:16Z - NCEI Accession 0211007 v1.1 was published.
  • 2020-07-10T19:05:15Z - NCEI Accession 0211008 v1.1 was published.
  • 2020-07-10T19:57:15Z - NCEI Accession 0211009 v1.1 was published.
  • 2021-09-23T20:05:13Z - NCEI Accession 0232040 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-05-06T21:48:14Z - NCEI Accession 0252260 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-05-11T19:36:37Z - NCEI Accession 0253140 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-05-12T17:50:56Z - NCEI Accession 0253447 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-05-12T17:51:26Z - NCEI Accession 0253448 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-05-12T17:51:42Z - NCEI Accession 0253450 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-05-12T18:32:32Z - NCEI Accession 0253140 was revised and v1.2 was published.
  • 2022-06-23T15:58:21Z - NCEI Accession 0253923 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-09-27T07:52:59Z - NCEI Accession 0259524 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-09-27T15:28:47Z - NCEI Accession 0259525 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-09-27T15:34:21Z - NCEI Accession 0259526 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-09-27T21:26:33Z - NCEI Accession 0259692 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-09-28T18:37:07Z - NCEI Accession 0259486 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-10-03T13:45:13Z - NCEI Accession 0260245 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-11-23T16:40:57Z - NCEI Accession 0270520 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-11-23T16:44:42Z - NCEI Accession 0270530 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-11-23T17:32:14Z - NCEI Accession 0270539 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-11-23T18:52:44Z - NCEI Accession 0271964 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-11-29T15:40:34Z - NCEI Accession 0270528 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-11-29T17:03:59Z - NCEI Accession 0270542 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-12-06T22:24:33Z - NCEI Accession 0275966 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-12-12T22:30:35Z - NCEI Accession 0275967 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-12-12T22:35:28Z - NCEI Accession 0275968 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-12-14T21:02:26Z - NCEI Accession 0276017 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-12-14T21:11:27Z - NCEI Accession 0276018 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-12-16T00:02:12Z - NCEI Accession 0276021 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-12-16T02:15:12Z - NCEI Accession 0276019 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-12-16T16:39:06Z - NCEI Accession 0276020 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-01-10T17:21:58Z - NCEI Accession 0276265 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-01-11T14:07:32Z - NCEI Accession 0276264 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-01-11T19:17:08Z - NCEI Accession 0276266 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-01-12T16:12:53Z - NCEI Accession 0276263 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-01-12T17:19:36Z - NCEI Accession 0276267 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-01-26T05:45:38Z - NCEI Accession 0276422 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-01-31T18:35:43Z - NCEI Accession 0276482 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-04-06T16:40:05Z - NCEI Accession 0259692 was revised and v2.2 was published.
  • 2023-04-17T21:53:28Z - NCEI Accession 0277496 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-04-18T16:23:33Z - NCEI Accession 0277497 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-04-20T14:04:30Z - NCEI Accession 0277532 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-05-03T18:51:27Z - NCEI Accession 0277839 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-05-11T22:56:04Z - NCEI Accession 0277997 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-05-12T14:29:27Z - NCEI Accession 0277996 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-05-12T15:35:29Z - NCEI Accession 0278002 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-05-12T15:40:27Z - NCEI Accession 0277999 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-05-12T16:42:28Z - NCEI Accession 0277998 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-05-12T17:11:29Z - NCEI Accession 0278059 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-05-12T18:29:30Z - NCEI Accession 0278060 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-05-12T18:39:26Z - NCEI Accession 0277995 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-05-16T19:13:25Z - NCEI Accession 0278269 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-05-16T20:20:28Z - NCEI Accession 0278270 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-06-23T15:28:39Z - NCEI Accession 0279323 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-06-23T15:28:52Z - NCEI Accession 0279322 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-06-23T15:29:04Z - NCEI Accession 0279321 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-06-23T16:45:29Z - NCEI Accession 0279325 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-06-23T18:47:27Z - NCEI Accession 0279324 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-06-23T19:53:28Z - NCEI Accession 0279326 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-07-26T12:49:32Z - NCEI Accession 0280519 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-07-28T23:12:30Z - NCEI Accession 0280675 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-08-01T12:36:40Z - NCEI Accession 0280922 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-08-03T17:38:08Z - NCEI Accession 0281206 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-09-15T17:52:42Z - NCEI Accession 0282703 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-09-15T22:00:23Z - NCEI Accession 0282701 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-11-05T12:45:35Z - NCEI Accession 0284765 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-12-02T21:43:30Z - NCEI Accession 0285699 v1.1 was published.
  • 2023-12-06T17:55:45Z - NCEI Accession 0285700 v1.1 was published.
  • 2024-02-08T17:05:28Z - NCEI Accession 0288866 v1.1 was published.
  • 2024-02-16T22:04:51Z - NCEI Accession 0289355 v1.1 was published.
  • 2024-02-22T18:23:18Z - NCEI Accession 0289356 v1.1 was published.
  • 2024-03-08T06:11:26Z - NCEI Accession 0289931 v1.1 was published.
  • 2024-04-23T21:15:21Z - NCEI Accession 0290791 v1.1 was published.
  • 2024-04-23T21:50:32Z - NCEI Accession 0290836 v1.1 was published.
  • 2024-04-25T00:52:11Z - NCEI Accession 0291179 v1.1 was published.
  • 2024-04-25T00:53:34Z - NCEI Accession 0291180 v1.1 was published.
  • 2024-05-13T17:05:18Z - NCEI Accession 0289931 was revised and v2.2 was published.
  • 2024-05-13T21:51:15Z - NCEI Accession 0292615 v1.1 was published.
  • 2024-05-13T21:52:06Z - NCEI Accession 0292616 v1.1 was published.
  • 2024-05-13T21:53:39Z - NCEI Accession 0292622 v1.1 was published.
  • 2024-05-13T21:53:51Z - NCEI Accession 0292552 v1.1 was published.
  • 2024-05-13T22:12:24Z - NCEI Accession 0292621 v1.1 was published.
  • 2024-05-13T22:13:22Z - NCEI Accession 0292623 v1.1 was published.
  • 2024-05-17T23:11:24Z - NCEI Accession 0292729 v1.1 was published.
  • 2024-05-29T21:19:30Z - NCEI Accession 0292955 v1.1 was published.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • Avani trawl net
  • barometer
  • bottle
  • compass
  • dredge
  • Flow-through pump
  • Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer
  • GPS
  • Manta net
  • metallic bucket
  • microscope
  • net - plankton net
  • net - zooplankton net
  • Neuston net
  • pump sampler
  • Raman spectrometer
  • sediment sampler - corer
  • sediment sampler - grab
  • sediment sieve
  • temperature sensor
  • thermosalinograph
  • trap
  • trawl
Platform
  • AKADEMIK MSTISLAV KELDYSH
  • AKADEMIK TRYOSHNIKOV (Akademik Treshnikov)
  • Angeles Alvarino
  • Cabo de Hornos
  • Celtic Explorer
  • CORWITH CRAMER
  • LA PELAGIA
  • NEW HORIZON
  • NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer
  • ODEN
  • ORION
  • POINT SUR
  • PROFESSOR KAGANOVSKIY
  • R/V Pelagia
  • RRS Discovery
  • RV Polarstern
  • S.A. AGULHAS II
  • Solander
  • SOUTHERN SURVEYOR
  • SSV ROBERT C. SEAMANS
  • Tara
  • URANIA
  • USS Sea Dragon
  • XIANG YANG HONG 03
Last Modified: 2024-05-29T21:33:54Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov