FN Archimer Export Format PT J TI Seafloor microplastic hotspots controlled by deep-sea circulation BT AF Kane, Ian A. Clare, Michael A. Miramontes, Elda Wogelius, Roy Rothwell, James J. Garreau, Pierre Pohl, Florian AS 1:1;2:2;3:3,4;4:1;5:5;6:6;7:7; FF 1:;2:;3:;4:;5:;6:PDG-ODE-LOPS-OC;7:; C1 School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK. Faculty of Geosciences, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany. MARUM-Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany. Department of Geography, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. IFREMER, Univ. Brest, CNRS UMR 6523, IRD, Laboratoire d’Océanographie Physique et Spatiale (LOPS), IUEM, 29280, Plouzané, France. Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK. C2 UNIV MANCHESTER, UK NOC, UK UNIV BREMEN, GERMANY UNIV BREMEN MARUM, GERMANY UNIV MANCHESTER, UK IFREMER, FRANCE UNIV DURHAM, UK SI BREST SE PDG-ODE-LOPS-OC UM LOPS IN WOS Ifremer UMR copubli-europe IF 47.728 TC 373 UR https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00634/74573/74461.pdf https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00634/74573/74462.pdf https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00634/74573/74463.xlsx LA English DT Article AB Although microplastics are known to pervade the global seafloor, the processes that control their dispersal and concentration in the deep sea remain largely unknown. Here, we show that thermohaline-driven currents, which build extensive seafloor sediment accumulations, can control the distribution of microplastics and create hotspots with the highest concentrations reported for any seafloor setting (190 pieces per 50 grams). Previous studies propose that microplastics are transported to the seafloor by vertical settling from surface accumulations; here, we demonstrate that the spatial distribution and ultimate fate of microplastics are strongly controlled by near-bed thermohaline currents (bottom currents). These currents are known to supply oxygen and nutrients to deep-sea benthos, suggesting that deep-sea biodiversity hotspots are also likely to be microplastic hotspots. PY 2020 PD JUL SO Science SN 0036-8075 PU American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) VL 368 IS 6495 UT 000539738400050 BP 1140 EP 1145 DI 10.1126/science.aba5899 ID 74573 ER EF