Imagine a hurricane that not only devastates everything in its path but also carries thousands of tiny pieces of plastic through the air.
It may sound surprising, but recent research has revealed a connection between hurricanes and the dispersion of microplastics. As Hurricane “Larry” approached the coast of Newfoundland in Canada, scientists had the opportunity to study how this storm collects and deposits microplastics in the ocean.
Hurricane “Larry” was a special case that diverted its path to the northern coast of Canada in 2021, avoiding damage to the east coast of the United States. While weather experts wondered what it would leave in its wake, scientists had the opportunity to study whether hurricanes could pick up microplastics from the ocean surface and deposit them on land. By not making landfall until reaching Newfoundland, Larry proved to be the perfect setting to capture all materials deposited in the water or air; unlike the densely populated urban environment, where many of these contaminants would be found.
A study on Hurricane Larry
According to a recent study published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment, during its passage over Newfoundland, Larry engulfed both rain and a large amount of microplastics, pieces of plastic less than five millimeters in size. It is estimated that Larry deposited more than 100,000 microplastics per square meter of land per day. This not only demonstrates how plastic particles can infiltrate every corner of the environment but also how they move easily between land, sea, and air. Hurricanes add to the growing list of ways in which these tiny pollutants spread around the world.
This connection between hurricanes and microplastics is due to the exponential production of plastic by mankind. These microplastics were long thought to be trapped in the ocean, especially when waste from synthetic fabrics such as polyester is released into sewage and reaches the sea. However, this research shows that these particles are thrown into the atmosphere by waves and bubbles, returning to land in the particles in the marine air.
How was the Hurricane Larry study conducted?
To study this phenomenon, scientists installed an instrument in Newfoundland. It consisted of a glass cylinder with ultrapure water, placed in a clearing, which would capture any particles that fell during and after the hurricane. The results showed that before and after Larry, tens of thousands of microplastics per square meter were already being deposited daily, but when the hurricane hit, the number doubled to 113,000 microplastics per square meter. This experiment demonstrates how extreme weather events have the ability to transfer and intensify the dispersion of microplastics in our environment.
This study is not only relevant to scientists but also makes evident the urgency of addressing the microplastics problem from different perspectives. For environmental specialists and students within this area of study, it is essential to understand how climate change and extreme weather events are interacting with plastic pollution and its mobility in the ecosystem. Caring for our planet involves controlling and reducing the production of plastics, as well as looking for more effective ways to clean up and eliminate microplastics dispersed in the air, water, and soil.
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