Lagrangian Modeling of Marine Microplastics Fate and Transport: The State of the Science

Microplastics pollution has led to irreversible environmental consequences and has triggered global concerns. It has been shown that water resources and marine food consumers are adversely affected by microplastics due to their physico-chemical characteristics. This study attempts to comprehensively...

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Main Authors: Mostafa Bigdeli, Abdolmajid Mohammadian, Abolghasem Pilechi, Mercedeh Taheri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-03-01
Series:Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/4/481
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author Mostafa Bigdeli
Abdolmajid Mohammadian
Abolghasem Pilechi
Mercedeh Taheri
author_facet Mostafa Bigdeli
Abdolmajid Mohammadian
Abolghasem Pilechi
Mercedeh Taheri
author_sort Mostafa Bigdeli
collection DOAJ
description Microplastics pollution has led to irreversible environmental consequences and has triggered global concerns. It has been shown that water resources and marine food consumers are adversely affected by microplastics due to their physico-chemical characteristics. This study attempts to comprehensively review the structure of four well-known Lagrangian particle-tracking models, i.e., Delft3D—Water Quality Particle tracking module (D-WAQ PART), Ichthyoplankton (Ichthyop), Track Marine Plastic Debris (TrackMPD), and Canadian Microplastic Simulation (CaMPSim-3D) in simulating the fate and transport of microplastics. Accordingly, the structure of each model is investigated with respect to addressing the involved physical transport processes (including advection, diffusion, windage, beaching, and washing-off) and transformation processes (particularly biofouling and degradation) that play key roles in microplastics’ behavior in the marine environment. In addition, the effects of the physical properties (mainly size, diameter, and shape) of microplastics on their fate and trajectories are reviewed. The models’ capabilities and shortcomings in the simulation of microplastics are also discussed. The present review sheds light on some aspects of microplastics’ behavior in water that were not properly addressed in particle-tracking models, such as homo- and hetero-aggregation, agglomeration, photodegradation, and chemical and biological degradation as well as additional advection due to wave-induced drift. This study can be regarded as a reliable steppingstone for the future modification of the reviewed models.
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spelling doaj.art-aa19936297434477b0e279f37c5489502023-12-01T21:07:56ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122022-03-0110448110.3390/jmse10040481Lagrangian Modeling of Marine Microplastics Fate and Transport: The State of the ScienceMostafa Bigdeli0Abdolmajid Mohammadian1Abolghasem Pilechi2Mercedeh Taheri3Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, CanadaDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, CanadaDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, CanadaDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, CanadaMicroplastics pollution has led to irreversible environmental consequences and has triggered global concerns. It has been shown that water resources and marine food consumers are adversely affected by microplastics due to their physico-chemical characteristics. This study attempts to comprehensively review the structure of four well-known Lagrangian particle-tracking models, i.e., Delft3D—Water Quality Particle tracking module (D-WAQ PART), Ichthyoplankton (Ichthyop), Track Marine Plastic Debris (TrackMPD), and Canadian Microplastic Simulation (CaMPSim-3D) in simulating the fate and transport of microplastics. Accordingly, the structure of each model is investigated with respect to addressing the involved physical transport processes (including advection, diffusion, windage, beaching, and washing-off) and transformation processes (particularly biofouling and degradation) that play key roles in microplastics’ behavior in the marine environment. In addition, the effects of the physical properties (mainly size, diameter, and shape) of microplastics on their fate and trajectories are reviewed. The models’ capabilities and shortcomings in the simulation of microplastics are also discussed. The present review sheds light on some aspects of microplastics’ behavior in water that were not properly addressed in particle-tracking models, such as homo- and hetero-aggregation, agglomeration, photodegradation, and chemical and biological degradation as well as additional advection due to wave-induced drift. This study can be regarded as a reliable steppingstone for the future modification of the reviewed models.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/4/481microplasticsfatetransportparticle trackingmarine environment
spellingShingle Mostafa Bigdeli
Abdolmajid Mohammadian
Abolghasem Pilechi
Mercedeh Taheri
Lagrangian Modeling of Marine Microplastics Fate and Transport: The State of the Science
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
microplastics
fate
transport
particle tracking
marine environment
title Lagrangian Modeling of Marine Microplastics Fate and Transport: The State of the Science
title_full Lagrangian Modeling of Marine Microplastics Fate and Transport: The State of the Science
title_fullStr Lagrangian Modeling of Marine Microplastics Fate and Transport: The State of the Science
title_full_unstemmed Lagrangian Modeling of Marine Microplastics Fate and Transport: The State of the Science
title_short Lagrangian Modeling of Marine Microplastics Fate and Transport: The State of the Science
title_sort lagrangian modeling of marine microplastics fate and transport the state of the science
topic microplastics
fate
transport
particle tracking
marine environment
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/4/481
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AT abolghasempilechi lagrangianmodelingofmarinemicroplasticsfateandtransportthestateofthescience
AT mercedehtaheri lagrangianmodelingofmarinemicroplasticsfateandtransportthestateofthescience