A wave-resolving two-dimensional vertical Lagrangian approach to model microplastic transport in nearshore waters based on TrackMPD 3.0
<p>Potentially acting as a source or a sink for plastic pollution to the open ocean, nearshore waters remain a challenging context for predicting the transport and deposition of plastic debris. In this study, we present an advanced modeling approach based on the SWASH wave model and the TrackM...
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Copernicus Publications
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Geoscientific Model Development |
| Online Access: | https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/18/319/2025/gmd-18-319-2025.pdf |
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| author | I. Jalón-Rojas D. Sous D. Sous V. Marieu |
| author_facet | I. Jalón-Rojas D. Sous D. Sous V. Marieu |
| author_sort | I. Jalón-Rojas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Potentially acting as a source or a sink for plastic pollution to the open ocean, nearshore waters remain a challenging context for predicting the transport and deposition of plastic debris. In this study, we present an advanced modeling approach based on the SWASH wave model and the TrackMPD (v3.0) particle transport model to investigate the transport dynamics of floating and sinking microplastics in wave-dominated environments. This approach introduces novel features such as coupling with advanced turbulence models, simulating resuspension and bedload processes, implementing advanced settling and rising velocity formulations, and enabling parallel computation. The wave laboratory experiments conducted by <span class="cit" id="xref_text.1"><a href="#bib1.bibx19">Forsberg et al.</a> (<a href="#bib1.bibx19">2020</a>)</span> were simulated to validate the model's ability to reproduce the transport of diverse microplastics (varying in density, shape, and size) along a comprehensive beach profile, capturing the whole water column. Our results underscore the robustness of the proposed model, showing good agreement with experimental data. High-density microplastics moved onshore near the bed, accumulating in proximity to the wave-breaking zone, while the distribution of low-density particles varied along the coastal profile depending on the particle properties. The study also sheds light on the primary mechanisms driving microplastic transport, such as Stokes drift, wave asymmetry, and settling/rising velocities. Sensitivity analyses on calibration parameters further confirm the robustness of the model results and the influence of these factors on transport patterns. This research establishes the SWASH–TrackMPD approach as a valuable tool, opening avenues for future studies to contextualize laboratory findings within the complexities of real-world nearshore environments and further refine our comprehension of microplastic dynamics across different beaches and wave-climate conditions.</p> |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-49304335099e4c579bb5d276d7527f5e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1991-959X 1991-9603 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
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| series | Geoscientific Model Development |
| spelling | doaj-art-49304335099e4c579bb5d276d7527f5e2025-01-22T11:06:11ZengCopernicus PublicationsGeoscientific Model Development1991-959X1991-96032025-01-011831933610.5194/gmd-18-319-2025A wave-resolving two-dimensional vertical Lagrangian approach to model microplastic transport in nearshore waters based on TrackMPD 3.0I. Jalón-Rojas0D. Sous1D. Sous2V. Marieu3Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, 33600 Pessac, FranceUniversité de Toulon, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), 83957 La Garde, FranceUniversité de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, E2S UPPA, SIAME, 64600 Anglet, FranceUniv. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, 33600 Pessac, France<p>Potentially acting as a source or a sink for plastic pollution to the open ocean, nearshore waters remain a challenging context for predicting the transport and deposition of plastic debris. In this study, we present an advanced modeling approach based on the SWASH wave model and the TrackMPD (v3.0) particle transport model to investigate the transport dynamics of floating and sinking microplastics in wave-dominated environments. This approach introduces novel features such as coupling with advanced turbulence models, simulating resuspension and bedload processes, implementing advanced settling and rising velocity formulations, and enabling parallel computation. The wave laboratory experiments conducted by <span class="cit" id="xref_text.1"><a href="#bib1.bibx19">Forsberg et al.</a> (<a href="#bib1.bibx19">2020</a>)</span> were simulated to validate the model's ability to reproduce the transport of diverse microplastics (varying in density, shape, and size) along a comprehensive beach profile, capturing the whole water column. Our results underscore the robustness of the proposed model, showing good agreement with experimental data. High-density microplastics moved onshore near the bed, accumulating in proximity to the wave-breaking zone, while the distribution of low-density particles varied along the coastal profile depending on the particle properties. The study also sheds light on the primary mechanisms driving microplastic transport, such as Stokes drift, wave asymmetry, and settling/rising velocities. Sensitivity analyses on calibration parameters further confirm the robustness of the model results and the influence of these factors on transport patterns. This research establishes the SWASH–TrackMPD approach as a valuable tool, opening avenues for future studies to contextualize laboratory findings within the complexities of real-world nearshore environments and further refine our comprehension of microplastic dynamics across different beaches and wave-climate conditions.</p>https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/18/319/2025/gmd-18-319-2025.pdf |
| spellingShingle | I. Jalón-Rojas D. Sous D. Sous V. Marieu A wave-resolving two-dimensional vertical Lagrangian approach to model microplastic transport in nearshore waters based on TrackMPD 3.0 Geoscientific Model Development |
| title | A wave-resolving two-dimensional vertical Lagrangian approach to model microplastic transport in nearshore waters based on TrackMPD 3.0 |
| title_full | A wave-resolving two-dimensional vertical Lagrangian approach to model microplastic transport in nearshore waters based on TrackMPD 3.0 |
| title_fullStr | A wave-resolving two-dimensional vertical Lagrangian approach to model microplastic transport in nearshore waters based on TrackMPD 3.0 |
| title_full_unstemmed | A wave-resolving two-dimensional vertical Lagrangian approach to model microplastic transport in nearshore waters based on TrackMPD 3.0 |
| title_short | A wave-resolving two-dimensional vertical Lagrangian approach to model microplastic transport in nearshore waters based on TrackMPD 3.0 |
| title_sort | wave resolving two dimensional vertical lagrangian approach to model microplastic transport in nearshore waters based on trackmpd 3 0 |
| url | https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/18/319/2025/gmd-18-319-2025.pdf |
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