TY - JOUR
T1 - Microplastics in Glaciers: First Results from the Vatnajokull Ice Cap
T2 - First results from the vatnajökull ice cap
AU - Stefánsson, Hlynur
AU - Peternell, Mark
AU - Konrad-Schmolke, Matthias
AU - Hannesdóttir, Hrafnhildur
AU - Ásbjörnsson, Einar Jón
AU - Sturkell, Erik
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2021/4/9
Y1 - 2021/4/9
N2 - Microplastic particles, as a second-phase material in ice, may contribute to the effect such particles have on the melting and rheological behaviour of glaciers, and thus influence the future meltwater contribution to the oceans and rising sea levels. Hence, it is of the utmost importance to map and understand the presence and dispersal of microplastics on a global scale. In this work, we identified microplastic particles in snow cores collected in a remote and pristine location on the Vatnajökull ice cap in Iceland. Utilising optical microscopy and µ-Raman spectroscopy, we visualised and identified microplastic particles of various sizes and materials. Our findings support that atmospheric transport of microplastic particles is one of the important pathways for microplastic pollution.
AB - Microplastic particles, as a second-phase material in ice, may contribute to the effect such particles have on the melting and rheological behaviour of glaciers, and thus influence the future meltwater contribution to the oceans and rising sea levels. Hence, it is of the utmost importance to map and understand the presence and dispersal of microplastics on a global scale. In this work, we identified microplastic particles in snow cores collected in a remote and pristine location on the Vatnajökull ice cap in Iceland. Utilising optical microscopy and µ-Raman spectroscopy, we visualised and identified microplastic particles of various sizes and materials. Our findings support that atmospheric transport of microplastic particles is one of the important pathways for microplastic pollution.
KW - Raman spectroscopy
KW - atmospheric transport
KW - climate change
KW - glacier
KW - ice
KW - microplastics
KW - pollution
KW - snow
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85104650059&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/su13084183
DO - 10.3390/su13084183
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85104650059
SN - 2071-1050
VL - 13
JO - Sustainability (Switzerland)
JF - Sustainability (Switzerland)
IS - 8
M1 - 4183
ER -