Author(s): Yulin Hu; Saiyu Yuan
Linked Author(s): Saiyu Yuan
Keywords: Microplastics Transport Process Taihu Lake Hydrodynamics Field experiment
Abstract: Although lots of researches have investigated the fate, abundance and distribution of microplastics in aquatic environments, including seas, rivers and lakes, the behaviors of microplastics transport and deposition driven by hydrodynamics are unclear. In the present study, we investigated the distribution of microplastics in surface water, middle water and sediments in Taihu Lake, the third largest freshwater lake located in one of the most developed areas of China. Based on the first experimental data obtained so far, the results indicated that the abundance of microplastics in water samples in the Eastern Taihu Bay is obviously higher than the other sampling sites. It may be because of the advection and low velocity. We speculated that microplastic particles are prone to move with the flow motion from northwest to southeast, and get trapped in special locations like “river curves” or areas of low flow velocity.
Year: 2025