Microplastic samplings and inverse trajectory recognition in the Mediterranean Sea

In this work data of the Goletta Verde microplastic sampling campaign conducted, in 2015, in the Mediterranean Sea are presented together with the marine circulation analysis of the same domain. Both surface and 15m-depth sampling are realized in nine different Italian locations. A detailed analysis of wind stress, surface and subsurface velocity fields is conducted, on a smaller domain comprising two critical sampling locations, to estimate possible pollutant pathways. Inverse trajectories technique is used to evaluate feasible microplastic sources and accumulation zones.