Microplastics and nanoplastics counts for an Antarcic transect (Dec 2023 - Jan 2024)

The *Spiritus 2024 Antarctic Mission* dataset captures environmental and expedition-based measurements collected during a 58-day unassisted traverse to the geographic South Pole, completed on January 19, 2024, by polar explorers in collaboration with the Columbia Climate School and its Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. Conducted under extreme Antarctic conditions, the mission combined human endurance exploration with targeted scientific sampling to investigate the global distribution and impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics in one of the most remote environments on Earth. <br/> <br/>The dataset includes georeferenced snow and environmental samples collected along a transcontinental route from the Hercules Inlet to the South Pole, accompanied by contextual observations of atmospheric conditions, wind regimes, and surface characteristics. <br/> <br/>The *Spiritus 2024* dataset is designed to support interdisciplinary applications, including the detection and transport pathways of micro- and nanoplastics, validation of atmospheric and cryospheric transport models, and emerging machine learning approaches to environmental monitoring. By integrating high-quality field samples with contextual environmental and human performance data, the dataset offers a rare and valuable resource for understanding both the physical and systemic dimensions of environmental change in Antarctica, with broader implications for global pollution dynamics and climate-related risks.“‘Spiritus 2024南极科考任务’（Spiritus 2024 Antarctic Mission）数据集收录了2024年1月19日完成的58天无协助地理南极穿越任务中采集的环境与科考实测数据，本次任务由极地探险家与哥伦比亚气候学院（Columbia Climate School）及其下属拉蒙特-多尔蒂地球观测站（Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory）合作开展。该任务在极端南极环境下实施，将人类耐力探索与针对性科学采样相结合，旨在探究全球最偏远环境之一的微塑料与纳米塑料的分布特征及影响。 本数据集涵盖沿赫拉克勒斯湾（Hercules Inlet）至南极点的跨大陆路线采集的地理配准雪样与环境样本，同时配套包含大气状况、风况及地表特征的关联观测数据。 “‘Spiritus 2024’数据集旨在支撑多学科应用场景，包括微塑料与纳米塑料的检测及传输路径研究、大气与冰冻圈传输模型的验证，以及面向环境监测的新兴机器学习方法应用。本数据集将高质量野外采样样本与关联环境及科考人员作业数据相结合，为理解南极环境变化的物理层面与系统维度提供了稀缺且宝贵的资源，同时对全球污染动态与气候相关风险的研究具有更深远的启示意义。”