Plastics and their photochemical fate in the Earth system

Plastics are an emerging contaminant and a new form of organic carbon in the Earth system. Plastics are presented from this geochemical perspective revealing plastic carbon to be a significant pool of C in some ecosystems. In considering the fate of plastics, photochemistry, driven by sunlight, is identified as a major removal pathway in ocean surface waters. Sunlight dissolves plastics to yield dissolved organic carbon. We present novel data for the photochemical dissolution of plastics to dissolved organic carbon, the possible microbial impact of the DOC released, and put plastic fluxes and standing stocks into the context of the biogenic carbon cycle.
About this Series: The Chemical Oceanography, Geology, Geochemistry, and Geobiology Seminar [COG3] is a student-run seminar series. Topics include chemical oceanography, geology, geochemistry, and geobiology. Contact cog3_seminar_organizers@mit.edu for more information and Zoom password.

About this series: The Chemical Oceanography, Geology, Geochemistry, and Geobiology Seminar [COG3] is a student-run seminar series. Topics include chemical oceanography, geology, geochemistry, and geobiology. Contact cog3_seminar_organizers@mit.edu for more information and Zoom password.