ALKOR AL635

Area:
Western Baltic Sea
Time:
30.06.2025 - 11.07.2025
Institution:
ºÚÁÏÊÓÆµ
Chief scientist:
Anja Engel

The ocean is regarded as an important sink for plastic debris, the majority of which originates from land-based sources, due to e.g. waste mismanagement. Within the marine environment, micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) particles are subject to transport processes on various temporal and spatial scales, which are also influenced by particle properties and interactions with marine biota and organic matter. The cruise AL635 aims to map and quantify MNP pollution in the Western Baltic Sea, focusing on the Danish-German border region. The cruise will implement various sampling methods, including Neuston catamaran tows, pump sampling, and Marine Snow Catchers, to collect MNPs of different size classes and from different water depths. Particles will be analysed on board using Hyperspectral Imaging and Raman spectroscopy or in the home laboratories using advanced techniques for small particles (<300 µm). Additionally, it will serve as a proof of concept for new pre-concentration and analysis techniques developed for nanoplastic particles within the PlastTrack project. PlastTrack is funded as part of the Interreg program, which supports collaborations in the Danish-German border region.

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