Examining the Atmospheric Transport of Microplastics using the HYSPLIT Model

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dc.contributor.advisorMark Gordon
dc.contributor.advisorRonald Hanson
dc.contributor.authorEric Bradley Ward
dc.date.accessioned2023-08-04T18:13:42Z
dc.date.available2023-08-04T18:13:42Z
dc.date.issued2023-08-04
dc.date.updated2023-08-04T18:13:41Z
dc.degree.disciplineEarth & Space Science
dc.degree.levelMaster's
dc.degree.nameMSc - Master of Science
dc.description.abstractMicroplastics are tiny particles less than 5 mm in size and are a growing scientific concern, given the potential harm caused across ecosystems as plastic use increases globally. To further understand the atmosphere's role, the HYSPLIT model was utilized to identify differences in transport distance and deposition area by particle size and shape. The extent of microplastic transport and deposition varied significantly by shape for particles larger than 6 µm. Long fibres deposited over a 32% greater area than spherical particles at the largest size of 23.5 µm. The maximum deposition area occurred at 4.5 µm, varying in area by less than 0.25% by shape. As particles smaller than 10 µm have the largest potential to cause adverse health effects, accurately modelling the shape of atmospheric microplastic transport is crucial to determining the range and amount of deposition globally, especially in the 6 µm to 10 µm size range.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10315/41409
dc.languageen
dc.rightsAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.
dc.subjectAtmospheric sciences
dc.subject.keywordsmicroplastics
dc.subject.keywordsHYSPLIT
dc.subject.keywordsdispersion model
dc.subject.keywordsparticulate matter
dc.subject.keywordstire wear
dc.subject.keywords
dc.titleExamining the Atmospheric Transport of Microplastics using the HYSPLIT Model
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

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