Microplastics (MPs, <5 mm) are a pervasive pollutant found throughout the global ocean — from coastal zones to deep-sea trenches (Auta et al., 2017). Their transport and accumulation are strongly shaped by ocean circulation. Numerous modeling studies have investigated the physical processes driving MPs distribution in the ocean (Huck et al., 2022; Richon et al., 2022; van der Mheen et al., 2019). These studies revealed that processes such as Stokes drifts, convergence pathways and convective mixing influence the distribution of MPs and its partition between surface and sub-surface layers. However, the influence of interannual to decadal climate variability (e.g., ENSO, NAO, climate change) on MP distribution remains unexplored, despite emerging evidence of significant interactions (Goddijn-Murphy et al., 2025).
The host laboratory (LOPS) is a lab specialized in physical oceanography, and hosts internationally recognized experts in numerical modeling of ocean physics and plastic dispersion modeling. The internship is co-supervised by the Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Environnement Marin (LEMAR), which hosts experts in microplastic ocean monitoring and environmental assessments.
This internship aims to investigate how interannual variability in ocean circulation influences the 3D global distribution of microplastics. Specifically, the student will: - Implement and run global ocean simulations with the NEMO/PISCES-PLASTIC model, developed by the host team; - Analyze simulation outputs (in NetCDF format) to quantify how varying climate conditions (past, present, and future) affect MP distribution patterns and accumulation zones.
This internship will provide new insights into how interannual and decadal ocean variability modulates the transport and accumulation of microplastics. The results could improve our understanding of observed MP patterns and inform future projections under changing climate conditions.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
