Betty John from the PLASTINEST team presented the initial findings of her PhD research at the Physics of Estuaries and Coastal Seas (PECS) 2024 conference, held on 23-27 September in Bordeaux. In her presentation, she highlighted the role of estuarine physical processes in microplastic transport, seasonal trends in microplastic concentrations, and potential accumulation zones for light and dense particles in the Gironde-Garonne-Dordogne fluvial-estuarine system.
These findings stem from numerical simulations using the Telemac3D hydrodynamic model coupled with the TrackMPD Lagrangian particle tracking model. Further analysis, incorporating observational data from a recent field campaign, is underway to deepen understanding. Betty concluded with a discussion of her current efforts to uncover the physical mechanisms behind the trapping of floating microplastics by surface convergent fronts in the middle estuary.
During the conference, she engaged in inspiring discussions with leading researchers in estuarine physics, motivating her to continue exploring new insights into microplastic transport across the estuary-river continuum.
