Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Microplastics concentration collected from SV Mir and RV Cabo de Hornos in the Bay of Bengal and South Pacific Ocean from 2013-05-27 to 2015-11-04 (NCEI Accession 0275967)

Preview graphic

This study was carried out to estimate the microplastics (i.e. plastics measuring less than 5mm, reported in unit of pieces/m^3) concentration in the Bay of Bengal and South Pacific Ocean. Microplastics data was collected from 2013-05-27 to 2015-11-04. The Bay of Bengal expedition was aboard SV Mir while the South Pacific Ocean expedition was aboard RV Cabo de Hornos. During the two expeditions, the study investigated whether the microplastics sampling instruments, the new, high-speed AVANI trawl (All-purpose Velocity Accelerated Net Instrument) collected similar amounts and types of microplastics as two established scientific trawl designs, the manta trawl and the neuston net. The AVANI trawl can collect microplastics from the sea surface at relatively higher speeds up to 8 knots and during long transits (allowing for a nearly continuous sampling effort over long distances), whereas the manta and neuston trawls must be towed slowly in a less turbulent sea state and often represent shorter tow lengths. This dataset contains the results from all 36 sampling stations in the Bay of Bengal and 52 sampling stations in the South Pacific Ocean, in a spreadsheet format.

Dataset Citation

Cite as: Eriksen, Marcus; Liboiron, Max; Kiessling, Tim; Charron, Louis; Alling, Abigail; Lebreton, Laurent; Richards, Heather; Roth, Barent; Ory, Nicolas; Hidalgo-Ruz, Valeria; Meerhoff, Erika; Box, Carolynn; Cummins, Anna; Thiel, Martin (2022). Microplastics concentration collected from SV Mir and RV Cabo de Hornos in the Bay of Bengal and South Pacific Ocean from 2013-05-27 to 2015-11-04 (NCEI Accession 0275967). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0275967. Accessed [date].

Dataset Identifiers

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

gov.noaa.nodc:0275967

Full Text · XML

Download Data	HTTPS (download) Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. FTP (download) These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP).
Distribution Formats	Excel
Ordering Instructions	Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 NCEI.Info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov

Time Period	2013-05-27 to 2015-11-04
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates	West: 96.902667 East: -109.46261 South: -27.15432 North: 7.281667
Spatial Coverage Map

General Documentation

NCEI Dataset Landing Page
Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links.
Descriptive Information
Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links.

Associated Resources

The NOAA NCEI Global Marine Microplastics Database (1972-present)
- https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/NCEI-Marine-Microplastics
  NCEI Collection
Eriksen M, Liboiron M, Kiessling T, Charron L, Alling A, Lebreton L, Richards H, Roth B, Ory NC, Hidalgo-Ruz V, Meerhoff E, Box C, Cummins A, Thiel M. Microplastic sampling with the AVANI trawl compared to two neuston trawls in the Bay of Bengal and South Pacific. Environmental Pollution. 2017 Sep 28;232:430-439.
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.09.058
  journal article

gov.noaa.nodc:NCEI-Marine-Microplastics

Publication Dates	publication: 2022-12-12
Data Presentation Form	Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status	Complete - production of the data has been completed Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency	As needed
Purpose	These data were collected in order to determine the microplastics concentrations in the Bay of Bengal and South Pacific Ocean during 2013-05-27 to 2015-11-04
Use Limitations	accessLevel: Public Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.

Dataset Citation	Cite as: Eriksen, Marcus; Liboiron, Max; Kiessling, Tim; Charron, Louis; Alling, Abigail; Lebreton, Laurent; Richards, Heather; Roth, Barent; Ory, Nicolas; Hidalgo-Ruz, Valeria; Meerhoff, Erika; Box, Carolynn; Cummins, Anna; Thiel, Martin (2022). Microplastics concentration collected from SV Mir and RV Cabo de Hornos in the Bay of Bengal and South Pacific Ocean from 2013-05-27 to 2015-11-04 (NCEI Accession 0275967). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0275967. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors	Eriksen, Marcus 5 Gyres Institute Liboiron, Max Kiessling, Tim Charron, Louis Alling, Abigail Lebreton, Laurent Richards, Heather Roth, Barent Ory, Nicolas Hidalgo-Ruz, Valeria Meerhoff, Erika Box, Carolynn Cummins, Anna Thiel, Martin
Contributors	5 Gyres Institute
Resource Providers	Marcus Eriksen 5 Gyres Institute 5 Gyres Institute
Points of Contact	Ebenezer Nyadjro Mississippi State University (MSU)
Publishers	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Acknowledgments	Funding Agency: Comite Oceanografico Nacional (CONA), Chile: project code CONA C21I 15-029 Funding Agency: Chilean Millennium Initiative Grant NC 120030 Funding Agency: Chile Postdoctoral grants FONDECYT/Chile 3150419 and 3150636 Funding Agency: Marine Environmental Observation Prediction and Response Network

Theme keywords	NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS microplastic concentration NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS in situ WMO_CategoryCode oceanography Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > WATER QUALITY > SEA SURFACE CONTAMINANTS > MICROPLASTIC CONCENTRATION
Data Center keywords	NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS 5 Gyres Institute NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS 5 Gyres Institute
Platform keywords	NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS Cabo de Hornos Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords Ships ICES/SeaDataNet Ship Codes Cabo de Hornos (call sign: CB7960, ICES code: 20HZ, 2004) Provider Platform Names SV Mir
Instrument keywords	NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Avani trawl net Manta net Neuston net Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords NETS > NETS NEUSTON NET Provider Instruments Manta net, Neuston net, AVANI net (All-purpose Velocity Accelerated Net Instrument)
Place keywords	NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Andaman Sea or Burma Sea Bay of Bengal Indian Ocean South Pacific Ocean Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > INDIAN OCEAN OCEAN > INDIAN OCEAN > BAY OF BENGAL OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN
Keywords	NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 0275967
Keywords	Send2NCEI Submission Package ID EA11N3

Use Constraints	Cite as: Eriksen, Marcus; Liboiron, Max; Kiessling, Tim; Charron, Louis; Alling, Abigail; Lebreton, Laurent; Richards, Heather; Roth, Barent; Ory, Nicolas; Hidalgo-Ruz, Valeria; Meerhoff, Erika; Box, Carolynn; Cummins, Anna; Thiel, Martin (2022). Microplastics concentration collected from SV Mir and RV Cabo de Hornos in the Bay of Bengal and South Pacific Ocean from 2013-05-27 to 2015-11-04 (NCEI Accession 0275967). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0275967. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints	Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees	In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.

Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps	2022-12-12T22:30:35Z - NCEI Accession 0275967 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets	NCEI Accession 0275967 v1.1 NCEI Accession 0275967 v1.1 (download) published 2022-12-12T22:30:35Z

Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps	Parameter or Variable: MICROPLASTIC CONCENTRATION (measured); Units: pieces/m3; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Manta net, Neuston net, AVANI net (All-purpose Velocity Accelerated Net Instrument); Sampling and Analyzing Method: During two expeditions to the Bay of Bengal and the South Pacific, this study investigated whether the new, high-speed AVANI trawl (All-purpose Velocity Accelerated Net Instrument) collects similar amounts and types of microplastics as two established scientific trawl designs, the manta trawl and the DiSalvo neuston net. In the Bay of Bengal, a manta trawl was used alternately with the AVANI trawl, whereas in the South Pacific the neuston net was deployed simultaneously with the AVANI trawl at discrete oceanic stations. The AVANI trawl has a rectangular aperture which is 60 cm high and 14 cm wide, divided into two compartments by an aluminum plate. The plate is on the same plane as the two skis that keep the trawl at the sea surface when towed so that the bottom compartment (20 cm high and 14 cm wide) is beneath the surface. The net is 4 m long and has a mesh size of 335 µm with a 30×10 cm2 cod end. The manta trawl has a rectangular aperture that is 16 cm high and 61 cm wide, and has a 3 m long 335 µm net with a 30×10 cm2 cod end. It has two large upward-angled wings, which are hollow to allow for flotation as well as pushing the front of the trawl upward while under tow. The neuston net has a rectangular aperture that is 40 cm high and 80 cm wide, and has a 2.2 m long 300 µm net with a 30×15 cm2 collecting bag. It has one PVC pipe attached to each side which serve as floating devices that dictate the level at which the net sits in the water. Therefore, in calm conditions water is collected with only half of its opening, an area of 20 cm × 80 cm. The main difference between the AVANI design and other neuston trawl designs such as the manta trawl and DiSalvo neuston net is that its opening is much taller than it is wide, creating a stable net opening that captures the surface of the water at high speeds. The AVANI trawl was specifically designed for rough seas and high speeds that typically destabilize other neuston nets, causing them to leap above or descend below the sea surface. The tall, narrow profile on the AVANI trawl means that in more turbulent sea states, the net opening continually captures the surface layer during vertical movement. The AVANI trawl does not leap out of the water or dive below the sea surface, as frequently happens with other, traditional neuston trawls at higher speeds and sea states. The Bay of Bengal expedition was conducted aboard the S/V Mir in 2013 and was jointly organized between the 5 Gyres Institute and the Biosphere Foundation. The 11-day expedition began on May 25, 2013 from Galle Harbor, Sri Lanka, and sailed east to Phuket, Thailand. 36 samples were collected using the AVANI and manta trawl, one after the other. The 36 sample sites, 18 from each trawl, were not equidistant. Instead, they were used in ways that would characterize their use in a regular research setting. Manta trawl deployments were each 60 min long, at an approximate speed of 2.0 knots. The AVANI trawl was deployed for longer times and distances, often overnight; the longest trawl tow exceeded 130 km. The AVANI trawl was towed typically at 4-6 knots, but occasionally would increase to 7-8 knots when wind gusts would occur while under sail. Both trawls were towed along the surface on the downwind side of the vessel using a spinnaker pole to position the towline outside of the ship's wake, as wake down wells surface plastics. The expedition in the South Pacific from Chile to Rapa Nui (Easter Island) was conducted aboard the research vessel Cabo de Hornos and organized by the CIMAR 21 project of the Chilean Navy. The 30-day expedition began on the 12th of October in Valparaíso (Chile), sailed west to Rapa Nui (Chile) and returned to Valparaíso on the 10th of November 2015. 18 AVANI trawls and 34 neuston nets were deployed to collect samples with a maximum of 10 km within predefined stations. In most cases, at each oceanographic station, two replicate deployments were done with the neuston net, and these were paired with a single AVANI trawl. Each trawling lasted between 15 and 30 min. The AVANI trawl was towed along the side of the main research vessel using a pole at a speed of 4 knots and the neuston net was trawled behind a small inflatable rubber boat at a speed of approximately 2 knots. The neuston net was towed approximately 20-40 m behind the vessels to avoid the turbulence generated by their wake, though this distance is determined by visual observation of wake and likely requires additional investigation to understand wake effects. AVANI trawls were launched from the side of the vessel and trawled in parallel to the ship. The different distances, speeds, and sea states in each study ensured that the validation between trawls captured the variability of normal use. Samples obtained in the Bay of Bengal were preserved with 70% isopropyl alcohol and later rinsed in saltwater, which floated the plastic to the surface for removal, and investigated remaining organic debris for plastics. Using a dissecting microscope (10x to 40x magnification), plastic was removed from preserved natural material, and then sorted by rinsing through Tyler sieves. Samples from the South Pacific were preserved in 95% ethanol. Samples from both regions were inspected visually to separate microplastics, with ambiguous particles rejected from the final counts and weights.; Data Quality Method: FT-IR was not utilized to confirm polymer identification in either region due to equipment inaccessibility. Laboratory analysis was conducted by one experienced technician for each data set. This was followed by all ambiguous particles analyzed by another lab technician and eliminated if not visually confirmed to be plastic with a high degree of confidence. All AVANI and some neuston net samples from the South Pacific were contaminated with paint fragments, resulting from collision of the trawl with the boat hull. These paint fragments (fragile, soft, and sinking in seawater) were excluded from analysis. The plastic fragments were photographed with a scale and measured with the software ImageJ. Fragments below 0.335 mm were excluded from analysis, as this was the smallest common size of all three trawl nets..

Lineage information for: dataset

Processing Steps

Parameter or Variable: MICROPLASTIC CONCENTRATION (measured); Units: pieces/m3; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Manta net, Neuston net, AVANI net (All-purpose Velocity Accelerated Net Instrument); Sampling and Analyzing Method: During two expeditions to the Bay of Bengal and the South Pacific, this study investigated whether the new, high-speed AVANI trawl (All-purpose Velocity Accelerated Net Instrument) collects similar amounts and types of microplastics as two established scientific trawl designs, the manta trawl and the DiSalvo neuston net. In the Bay of Bengal, a manta trawl was used alternately with the AVANI trawl, whereas in the South Pacific the neuston net was deployed simultaneously with the AVANI trawl at discrete oceanic stations. The AVANI trawl has a rectangular aperture which is 60 cm high and 14 cm wide, divided into two compartments by an aluminum plate. The plate is on the same plane as the two skis that keep the trawl at the sea surface when towed so that the bottom compartment (20 cm high and 14 cm wide) is beneath the surface. The net is 4 m long and has a mesh size of 335 µm with a 30×10 cm2 cod end. The manta trawl has a rectangular aperture that is 16 cm high and 61 cm wide, and has a 3 m long 335 µm net with a 30×10 cm2 cod end. It has two large upward-angled wings, which are hollow to allow for flotation as well as pushing the front of the trawl upward while under tow. The neuston net has a rectangular aperture that is 40 cm high and 80 cm wide, and has a 2.2 m long 300 µm net with a 30×15 cm2 collecting bag. It has one PVC pipe attached to each side which serve as floating devices that dictate the level at which the net sits in the water. Therefore, in calm conditions water is collected with only half of its opening, an area of 20 cm × 80 cm. The main difference between the AVANI design and other neuston trawl designs such as the manta trawl and DiSalvo neuston net is that its opening is much taller than it is wide, creating a stable net opening that captures the surface of the water at high speeds. The AVANI trawl was specifically designed for rough seas and high speeds that typically destabilize other neuston nets, causing them to leap above or descend below the sea surface. The tall, narrow profile on the AVANI trawl means that in more turbulent sea states, the net opening continually captures the surface layer during vertical movement. The AVANI trawl does not leap out of the water or dive below the sea surface, as frequently happens with other, traditional neuston trawls at higher speeds and sea states. The Bay of Bengal expedition was conducted aboard the S/V Mir in 2013 and was jointly organized between the 5 Gyres Institute and the Biosphere Foundation. The 11-day expedition began on May 25, 2013 from Galle Harbor, Sri Lanka, and sailed east to Phuket, Thailand. 36 samples were collected using the AVANI and manta trawl, one after the other. The 36 sample sites, 18 from each trawl, were not equidistant. Instead, they were used in ways that would characterize their use in a regular research setting. Manta trawl deployments were each 60 min long, at an approximate speed of 2.0 knots. The AVANI trawl was deployed for longer times and distances, often overnight; the longest trawl tow exceeded 130 km. The AVANI trawl was towed typically at 4-6 knots, but occasionally would increase to 7-8 knots when wind gusts would occur while under sail. Both trawls were towed along the surface on the downwind side of the vessel using a spinnaker pole to position the towline outside of the ship's wake, as wake down wells surface plastics. The expedition in the South Pacific from Chile to Rapa Nui (Easter Island) was conducted aboard the research vessel Cabo de Hornos and organized by the CIMAR 21 project of the Chilean Navy. The 30-day expedition began on the 12th of October in Valparaíso (Chile), sailed west to Rapa Nui (Chile) and returned to Valparaíso on the 10th of November 2015. 18 AVANI trawls and 34 neuston nets were deployed to collect samples with a maximum of 10 km within predefined stations. In most cases, at each oceanographic station, two replicate deployments were done with the neuston net, and these were paired with a single AVANI trawl. Each trawling lasted between 15 and 30 min. The AVANI trawl was towed along the side of the main research vessel using a pole at a speed of 4 knots and the neuston net was trawled behind a small inflatable rubber boat at a speed of approximately 2 knots. The neuston net was towed approximately 20-40 m behind the vessels to avoid the turbulence generated by their wake, though this distance is determined by visual observation of wake and likely requires additional investigation to understand wake effects. AVANI trawls were launched from the side of the vessel and trawled in parallel to the ship. The different distances, speeds, and sea states in each study ensured that the validation between trawls captured the variability of normal use. Samples obtained in the Bay of Bengal were preserved with 70% isopropyl alcohol and later rinsed in saltwater, which floated the plastic to the surface for removal, and investigated remaining organic debris for plastics. Using a dissecting microscope (10x to 40x magnification), plastic was removed from preserved natural material, and then sorted by rinsing through Tyler sieves. Samples from the South Pacific were preserved in 95% ethanol. Samples from both regions were inspected visually to separate microplastics, with ambiguous particles rejected from the final counts and weights.; Data Quality Method: FT-IR was not utilized to confirm polymer identification in either region due to equipment inaccessibility. Laboratory analysis was conducted by one experienced technician for each data set. This was followed by all ambiguous particles analyzed by another lab technician and eliminated if not visually confirmed to be plastic with a high degree of confidence. All AVANI and some neuston net samples from the South Pacific were contaminated with paint fragments, resulting from collision of the trawl with the boat hull. These paint fragments (fragile, soft, and sinking in seawater) were excluded from analysis. The plastic fragments were photographed with a scale and measured with the software ImageJ. Fragments below 0.335 mm were excluded from analysis, as this was the smallest common size of all three trawl nets..

Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument	Avani trawl net Manta net Neuston net
Platform	Cabo de Hornos

Last Modified: 2024-09-17T19:15:43Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov

Microplastics concentration collected from SV Mir and RV Cabo de Hornos in the Bay of Bengal and South Pacific Ocean from 2013-05-27 to 2015-11-04 (NCEI Accession 0275967)

Follow us

Contact us