Global river water quality under climate change and hydroclimatic extremes

Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 4(10), P. 687 - 702

Published: Sept. 12, 2023

Language: Английский

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River plastic transport and deposition amplified by extreme flood

Nature Water, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 1(6), P. 514 - 522

Published: June 15, 2023

Abstract Plastic pollution in the world’s rivers and ocean is increasingly threatening ecosystem health human livelihood. In contrast to what commonly assumed, most mismanaged plastic waste that enters environment not exported into ocean. Rivers are therefore only conduits but also reservoirs of pollution. mobilization, transport retention dynamics influenced by hydrological processes river catchment features (for example, land use, vegetation morphology). Increased discharge has been associated with elevated rates, although exact relation between two can vary over time space. However, precise role an extreme event on still unknown. Here we show fluvial floods drive macroplastic (>2.5 cm) (items h −1 ) accumulation m −2 systems. We collected unique observational evidence during July 2021 flood along whole Dutch part Meuse. multiplied a factor 100 compared non-flood conditions (3.3 × 10 4 versus 2.3 2 items ). Over one-third modelled annual item was estimated occur within 6 days discharge. Between Maastricht Ravenstein (291 km 131 from mouth), period decreased 90%, suggesting dispersal mobilized limited due entrapment riverbanks, floodplains. riverbanks significantly river, corroborating river’s function as reservoir. Using new evidence, demonstrate crucial drivers Floods amplify mobilization plastics, effects local, river-scale limited. anticipate our findings will serve starting point for improving global estimates transport, export sea. Moreover, results provide essential insights future large-scale long-term quantitative assessments Reliable observations fundamental understanding key designing effective prevention reduction strategies.

Language: Английский

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River plastic transport affected by tidal dynamics

Hydrology and earth system sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 28(3), P. 589 - 610

Published: Feb. 9, 2024

Abstract. Plastic is an emerging pollutant, and the quantities in rivers oceans are expected to increase. Rivers assumed transport land-based plastic into ocean, fluvial marine processes have been relatively well studied date. However, controlling tidal estuaries, interface between systems, remain largely unresolved. For this reason, current estimates of riverine pollution export ocean highly uncertain. Hydrodynamics estuaries influenced by tides freshwater discharge. As a consequence, flow velocity direction magnitude can change diurnally. In turn, impacts dynamics solutes pollutants, including plastics. understudied, yet available observations suggest that plastics be retained here for long time periods, especially during periods low net Additional factors such as riparian vegetation riverbank characteristics, combination with bi-directional flows varying water levels, lead even higher likelihood long-term retention. Here, we provide first observation-based estimate on daily timescale rivers. purpose, developed simple Eulerian approach using sub-hourly discharge full cycles. We applied our method polluted Saigon River, Vietnam, throughout six cycles May 2022. show about 20 %–33 % total transport. found river positively significantly correlated (Pearson's R2 = 0.76). The than (20 16 %, respectively), suggesting governed other flow. Such include wind, concentrations water, entrapment downstream measurement site. rates alternate positive (seaward) negative (landward) result diurnal inequality soft neutrally buoyant items had considerably lower rigid (10 %–16 vs. 30 %–38 %), strongly depend item characteristics. Our results demonstrate crucial role dynamics. With paper emphasize importance understanding fundamental ultimately reduce uncertainties emission ocean.

Language: Английский

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Plastic does not simply flow into the sea: River transport dynamics affected by tides and floating plants

Environmental Pollution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 345, P. 123524 - 123524

Published: Feb. 12, 2024

Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in aquatic environments worldwide. Rivers connect terrestrial and marine ecosystems, playing a key role the transport of land-based plastic waste towards sea. Emerging research suggests that estuaries tidal rivers, dynamics play significant retention dynamics. To date, observations these systems have been limited, during single cycles remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated transport, trapping, re-mobilization macroplastics (> 0.5 cm) Saigon River, focusing on short-term individual cycles. We used GPS trackers, released at different stages cycle (ebb, flood, neap, spring). items demonstrated dynamic intermittent behavior. Items spent almost half time (49%) temporarily stopped, mainly due to their entrapment vegetation, infrastructure, or deposition riverbanks. were always re-mobilized within 10 h (85%), leading successive phases stopping transport. Tidal also resulted bidirectional items, with median daily total distance 40 km study reach (8.9 day−1) over four times larger than net (2.0 day−1). The was 21 days (mean = 202 days). In total, 81% retrieved trapped water hyacinths, emphasizing important floating vegetation river With this paper, aim provide data-driven insights into macroplastic tropical river. These are crucial design effective intervention monitoring strategies, estimating emission from rivers

Language: Английский

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Sample size requirements for riverbank macrolitter characterization

Frontiers in Water, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 4

Published: Jan. 19, 2023

Anthropogenic litter is omnipresent in terrestrial and freshwater systems, can have major economic ecological impacts. Monitoring modeling of anthropogenic comes with large uncertainties due to the wide variety characteristics, including size, mass, item type. It unclear as what effect sample set size on reliability representativeness statistics. Reliable statistics are needed (1) improve monitoring strategies, (2) parameterize transport models, (3) convert counts mass for stock flux calculations. In this paper, we quantify requirement riverbank characterization, using a database more than 14,000 macrolitter items (>0.5 cm), sampled 1 year at eight locations along Dutch Rhine, IJssel, Meuse rivers. We use perform Monte Carlo based bootstrap analysis statistics, determine relation between variability mean median values. Based this, present requirements, corresponding selected uncertainty confidence levels. Optima sampling effort information gain suggested (depending acceptable level), which function type heterogeneity. found that heterogeneity characteristics varies different categories, demonstrate minimum required depends category. This implies heterogeneous categories need be reach same level For example, describe category soft fragments (>2.5 cm) 90% confidence, 990 were needed, while only 39 uniform metal bottle caps. Finally, within assess requirements each river system. All data collected study freely available, may form basis an open access global used by scientists, practitioners, policymakers future strategies efforts.

Language: Английский

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Wave-induced cross-shore distribution of different densities, shapes, and sizes of plastic debris in coastal environments: A laboratory experiment

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 187, P. 114561 - 114561

Published: Jan. 9, 2023

Language: Английский

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Amsterdam urban water system as entry point of river plastic pollution

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 30(29), P. 73590 - 73599

Published: May 16, 2023

Accumulation of plastic litter in aquatic environments negatively impacts ecosystems and human livelihood. Urban areas are assumed to be the main source pollution these because high anthropogenic activity. Yet, drivers emissions, abundance, retention within systems subsequent transport river poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that urban water function as major contributors pollution, explore potential driving factors contributing dynamics. Monthly visual counting floating at six outlets Amsterdam system results an estimated 2.7 million items entering closely connected IJ annually, ranking it among most polluting measured Netherlands Europe. Subsequent analyses environmental (including rainfall, sunlight, wind speed, tidal regimes) flux showed very weak insignificant correlations (r = [Formula: see text]0.19-0.16), implying additional investigation is required. High-frequency observations various locations advanced monitoring using novel technologies could explored harmonize automate monitoring. Once type abundance well-defined with a clear origin, communication local communities stakeholders help co-develop solutions stimulate behavioral change geared reduce environments.

Language: Английский

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Macroplastic Fate and Transport Modeling: Freshwaters Act as Main Reservoirs

ACS ES&T Water, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 4(6), P. 2470 - 2481

Published: May 16, 2024

Macroplastic fate and transport in the freshwater environment are of great concern due to potentially harmful effects macroplastic on plants, animals, humans. Here, we present a modeling approach simulate at country scale based an existing plastic release model. The model was parametrized through available monitoring data results from field experiments applied Swiss rivers lakes. We found that almost all (98%) emissions into remain within Switzerland. After exploring influences weirs, retention rivers, lakes sensitivity analysis, high variability across different catchments rivers. In 22 analyzed scenarios for continuous along each river bank (i.e., beaching), least 70% input water bodies would be retained long-term (about 200 g per km year). Across catchments, dominance "continuous retention" beaching entire length compared with "point weirs or Thus, by level first time, were able confirm concept "rivers as reservoirs" modeling.

Language: Английский

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Spatial accumulation of flood-driven riverside litter in two Northern Atlantic Rivers

Environmental Pollution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 345, P. 123528 - 123528

Published: Feb. 7, 2024

The escalation of litter accumulation in aquatic environments is recognized as an emerging global concern. Although rivers represent the main conduits for land-based waste into oceans, spatial dynamics these systems remain poorly investigated, especially after hydro-climatic extreme events. Floods have been identified major drivers mobilization, including macroplastics, within rivers. However, predicting flood-induced along riverbanks complex due to cumulative interplay multiple environmental (geomorphological and riparian) anthropogenic factors. Using empirical data collected from 14 stream reaches two Northern Atlantic Portugal, our study evaluates which factors, among geomorphological, riparian, descriptors, best drive riverside floods. Taking account longitudinal gradient heterogeneity studied reaches, enhances how characteristics (type, size) vary across a rural-urban continuum. Our model reveals that combination human population density slope at river reach showed highest explanatory power litter. findings indicate tends be retained close source, even under flood conditions. We also found structure riparian vegetation low accumulation. trapping could influenced by input (density type) varies with activities. This work highlights importance gathering field identify critical areas basins. can further support managers designing implementing effective cleanup campaigns plastic recovery strategies specific areas. Nevertheless, it crucial enhance coordinated efforts entire value chain reduce pollution, promote innovative approaches valorization, establish prevention pathways.

Language: Английский

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Large variation in Mekong river plastic transport between wet and dry season

Frontiers in Environmental Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: May 9, 2023

Plastic pollution in rivers is of increased global concern. Rivers act both as pathways for land-based plastic waste into the ocean, and reservoirs long-term retention. Reliable observations are key to designing, optimizing evaluating strategies prevent reduce pollution. Several measurement methods have been developed quantify macroplastic ( > 0.5 cm) storage transport rivers, including visual counting from bridges, net sampling, images-based techniques. Method harmonization crucial make sure data collected using different techniques remains consistent. In turn, this would allow comparative analysis within between rivers. paper, we present a approach estimate floating item mass methods. The allows estimating same values based on collection protocols. We applied our Mekong-Tonlé Sap-Bassac river system around city Phnom Penh, Cambodia. estimated wet dry season by combining sampling counting. During season, Mekong with factor up 170 (item transport) 294 (mass compared season. balance Penh changed considerably, which was mainly due flow reversal Tonlé Sap Downstream total consistently higher than upstream, although less (1.5–1.7 times) (3.8–5.9 times), emphasizing city’s role entry point Mekong. largest sources uncertainty assumed be caused differences methods, size ranges, extrapolation observation full width, contribution submerged transport. Future work should focus other counting, reducing uncertainties related Our results show that dynamics highly variable over time space, especially confluences, bifurcations urban areas. With paper aim contribute further monitoring.

Language: Английский

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