Collaborative Proposal: Plastic Spiraling In River Networks (Plastic-SIReN): Determining the controls of watershed plastic fluxes using a field and modeling approach

合作提案：河流网络中的塑料螺旋 (Plastic-SIReN)：使用现场和建模方法确定流域塑料通量的控制

• 批准号: 2113333
• 负责人: Wilfred Wollheim
• 金额: $ 42.99万
• 依托单位: University of New Hampshire
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-10-01 至 2024-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2113333&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Proposal; Plastic; Spiraling; River; Collaborative; Proposal; Plastic; Spiraling; River

Plastic litter is a widespread problem. Oceans have accumulated up to 21.1 million tons of plastic, the majority of which enters via rivers. But rivers are not just pipes delivering plastic to oceans. Instead, as plastic moves downstream in rivers it may settle, break into pieces, or interact with organisms. A substantial amount of plastic is likely stored in rivers, but when and where plastic is stored vs. moved downstream remains unknown. The research combines field measurements and computer modeling across a range of stream sizes, which is novel in the field of plastic research. This research is needed to better manage plastic pollution, where to focus cleanups, and whether drinking water sources are affected. A diverse team of students will learn how to measure plastics in streams in three different watersheds. The overarching research question is: “How does spatial and temporal variation in hydrology control the proportion of plastic debris that is retained within river networks vs. transported downstream?” The project will identify the role of flow variation, plastic characteristics, and watershed characteristics on plastic movement. A coupled field and modeling approach will be applied in the watersheds of three metropolitan regions (Chicago, IL; Boston, MA; Toronto, ON). Field measurements will take place at multiple sites in each watershed. At each site we will measure macro- and microplastic at base and storm flows to quantify plastic concentrations, types, size distribution, storage in sediments, and fluxes. A hydrologic model applied to each of the three watersheds will quantify river network-scale plastic accumulation, residence time, and retention. The team will work with watershed groups to identify hotspots of plastic accumulation to prioritize plastic waste cleanups and will present at ocean science and drinking water meetings, where management of plastic pollution is a major interest.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

塑料垃圾是一个广泛的问题。海洋已经积累了多达2110万吨塑料，其中大多数通过河流进入。但是河流不仅是将塑料运送到海洋的管道。取而代之的是，随着塑料在河流下游移动时，它可能会沉降，分成碎片或与生物体相互作用。大量塑料可能存储在河流中，但是何时何地存储塑料，而下游移动仍然未知。该研究结合了跨各种流尺寸的现场测量和计算机建模，这在塑料研究领域是新颖的。需要这项研究以更好地管理塑料污染，将清理集中在哪里以及是否受到饮用水源的影响。一个学生团队将学习如何在三个不同流域的流中测量塑料。总体研究问题是：“水文学的空间和临时变化如何控制保留在河网络与下游运输中的塑料碎片的比例？”该项目将确定流动变化，塑料特征和流域特征在塑料运动中的作用。将在三个大都市地区（伊利诺伊州芝加哥市；马萨诸塞州波士顿，马萨诸塞州芝加哥市）的流域中采用耦合场和建模方法。现场测量将在每个流域的多个地点进行。在每个地点，我们将在基础和风暴流量下测量宏观和微型塑料，以量化塑性浓度，类型，尺寸分布，沉积物中的存储和通量。应用于三个流域中每个分水岭的每个水文模型将量化河网尺寸的塑料堆积，停留时间和保留率。该团队将与流域团体合作，以确定塑料积累的热点，以确定塑料废物清理的优先级，并将在海洋科学和饮用水会议上举行，塑料污染的管理是一个重大兴趣。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为是通过基金会的知识分子和更广泛的影响审查Criteria通过评估来通过评估来获得的支持。