Distribution of microplastics in bathyal- to hadal-depth sediments and transport process along the deep-sea canyon and the Kuroshio Extension in the Northwest Pacific

Abstract

Understanding microplastic (MP) behavior in oceans is crucial for reducing marine plastic pollution. However, the complex process underlying MP transportation to the deep seafloor remains unknown despite the deep sea being considered its major sink. We focused on MP distribution in Sagami Bay (adjacent to highly populated areas of Japan), the plate triple junction connected through the Sagami Trough, and the abyssal plain immediately below the Kuroshio Extension. We observed the highest number of MPs in the abyssal stations, more than previously reported. The polymer types and aspect ratio of MPs in the abyssal stations significantly differed from those in the bathyal/hadal stations. The study suggests that MPs accumulated in the open ocean surface layer sink to the abyssal plains immediately below it, while MPs from land sources accumulate in the bathyal depth and are transported to the hadal depth near the coast through turbidity currents along the submarine canyon.

Keywords: Deep-sea canyon; Deep-sea sediment; Kuroshio Extension recirculation gyre; Marine pollution; Micro FT-IR; Microplastics.