Beach morphodynamics and its relationship with the deposition of plastic particles: A preliminary study in southeastern Brazil

Tsukada, Elisabete; Fernandes, Ermínio; Vidal, Cristiane; Salla, Raquel Fernanda

Beach morphodynamics and its relationship with the deposition of plastic particles: A preliminary study in southeastern Brazil

2021

Tsukada, Elisabete | Fernandes, Ermínio | Vidal, Cristiane | Salla, Raquel Fernanda

This study describes the beach profile, characterizes microplastics and correlates their abundance with morphodynamics characteristics on three beaches from the state of São Paulo, Brazil. 745 particles were found in 4 m² of sediment, mostly styrofoam. Nearly 90% of the fragments were found in Boracéia, the most dissipative beach, while less than 1% were found in Juréia beach, the most reflective one. The chemical composition of microplastics was identified by near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (HSI-NIR). The correlation between the abundance of particles and the slope plus the extension of the sand strip was high, as well as that found with the waves' height. These preliminary results indicate that there might be an intrinsic relation among the morphodynamical forces, the movement and destination of microplastics in marine environments.

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