Microdebris contamination in Australian coastal and marine waters

The data provides information relevant to determining time series estimates of anthropogenic marine debris contamination across the IMOS National Mooring Network (NMN) including National Reference Stations (NRS), with a focus on microplastics (plastics < 5 mm). Specifically, it summarises the physical (i.e., size, shape and colour) properties and chemical nature (i.e., synthetic, semi-synthetic or naturally derived, and polymer type) along with the associated sampling coordinates and field collection data. This dataset, together with other variables already measured across the NMN (e.g., surface salinity, current, plankton, fish larvae), has the potential to provide insight into abundance, spatial distribution and fluctuations in anthropogenic marine debris, as well as identify potential source materials, geographic (i.e., land-based) inputs and fate. Information on such contamination is critical to inform policy and management on marine pollution in Australia’s marine estate and to assess the effectiveness of policy responses.

本数据集提供了可用于估算IMOS国家锚定网络（National Mooring Network, NMN，含国家参考站National Reference Stations, NRS）范围内人为源海洋垃圾污染的时间序列数据，研究重点为微塑料（粒径小于5毫米的塑料）。具体而言，本数据集汇总了微塑料的物理属性（粒径、形状与颜色）与化学属性（合成、半合成或天然来源以及聚合物类型），同时附带相关采样坐标与野外采集数据。本数据集可与该网络已测定的其他变量（如表层盐度、海流、浮游生物、鱼类幼体）相结合，有望揭示人为源海洋垃圾的丰度、空间分布与波动特征，同时可识别潜在的源物质、陆源输入路径及其环境归宿。此类海洋污染相关数据，可为澳大利亚海洋管辖海域的海洋污染防治政策制定与管理工作提供科学支撑，同时有助于评估相关政策应对措施的实施成效。