Macrolitter budget and spatial distribution in a groyne field along the Waal river

Grosfeld, J. J.; Schoor, M. M.; Taormina, R.; Luxemburg, W.M.J.; Collas, F. P.L.

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116110

Macrolitter budget and spatial distribution in a groyne field along the Waal river

Title

Macrolitter budget and spatial distribution in a groyne field along the Waal river

Author

Grosfeld, J. J. (Student TU Delft)
Schoor, M. M. (Rijkswaterstaat)
Taormina, R. (TU Delft Sanitary Engineering)
Luxemburg, W.M.J. (TU Delft Water Resources)
Collas, F. P.L. (Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen; Rijkswaterstaat)

Date

2024

Abstract

Current research on riverine macrolitter does not yet provide a theoretic framework on the dynamics behind its accumulation and distribution along riverbanks. In an attempt to better understand these dynamics a detailed field survey of three months was conducted in which location of macrolitter items within a single groyne field along the Waal riverbanks was tracked. The data provided insight into the daily changing patterns of spatial item distribution with respect to the waterline. Furthermore, the rates of item uptake and deposition were monitored and related to hydrologic fluctuations. Uptake was initiated by rising water levels and was generally higher when the water level increased faster. Deposition occurred continuously, despite hydrologic fluctuations. This caused the riverbank macrolitter budget to be positive during stable or dropping water levels and negative during rising water levels. Although the results show clear patterns an extended monitoring duration is required to fully understand the fate of plastic objects.

Subject

Accumulation
Freshwater
Macroplastic
Monitoring
Pollution
Riverbanks

To reference this document use:

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:ffac03f6-013d-42c5-afef-f752bd282a79

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116110

ISSN

0025-326X

Source

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 200

Part of collection

Institutional Repository