Millions of Invaders Are Attacking the Ocean, and the Ocean Is Losing
Every year, an additional 11 million tons of microplastics permeate the water column and marine ecosystems within it. Geoscience is contributing to strategies that aim to identify microplastic movements—and stop them.
Tracking Microplastics Above and Below the Waves
Measuring plastic particles carried on Cozumel’s sea breezes and ocean currents reveals how simple physics shapes the particles’ pathways and the impacts they may have on coastal regions.
Trekking Tourism Leaves a Microplastic Footprint in a High Himalayan Lake
Plastic pollution may ripple downstream, threatening the human and wildlife communities that depend on glacier-fed waters.
What Tires Leave Behind Can Become Toxic Fish Food
Tire particles might seem tasty, if you’re a fish—but a new study shows how this pervasive microplastic can affect growth and behavior in marine species.
Plastic Debris Helps Oil Residues Reach Farther Across the Ocean
Scientists matched oil residues found in Florida to a Brazilian spill thousands of miles away.
Measuring Microplastics in Every Ocean Layer
Small bits of plastic don’t just float at the sea surface—they span the entire water column. Scientists need consistent methods to track these particles and to better understand the hazards…