Scientific program
2020 expedition
Phase 1: Sampling
A sampling campaign will be carried out along the route of the 2020 expedition on the coasts of France, Spain and the Balearic Islands. Samples will be collected every morning, and a first analysis will take place on the ship to obtain real-time data on the concentration of micro-plastics.
Phase 1: Sampling
On the surface
Surface sampling is carried out using a Manta net (mesh size 125 μm). The net is pulled behind the boat for 10 minutes at a speed of 2 knots. A current meter attached to the net let us know the quantity of water filtered by the net. The micro-plastics recovered measure between 125 μm and 5 mm.
![DSC_8667.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bf6a4e_6b761b269c9140ca888d7944f45063ea~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_103,h_69,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/DSC_8667_JPG.jpg)
On the surface
In the water column
The protocol for sampling in the water column has been validated by the 2017, 2018 and 2019 expeditions. It uses a closing net which can be dove up to 150 m deep. It is then trawled back to the surface. A mechanism allows us to close the net at any depth. Expedition 2020 uses this protocol to sample micro-plastic between 30 m and 80 m depth. The micro-plastics recovered measure between 100 μm and 5 mm.
![DSC_8623.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bf6a4e_eec05b83ed1b4017bd12a62e89a72b61~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_19,y_0,w_1161,h_800/fill/w_99,h_69,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/DSC_8623_JPG.jpg)
On the surface
Phase 1: Sampling
On the surface
Surface sampling is carried out using a Manta net (mesh size 125 μm). The net is pulled behind the boat for 10 minutes at a speed of 2 knots. A current meter attached to the net let us know the quantity of water filtered by the net. The micro-plastics recovered measure between 125 μm and 5 mm.
![IMG_0040 (1).jpeg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bf6a4e_6a43a2ee5a85466c8dcceb3fdf54fee6~mv2.jpeg/v1/crop/x_0,y_0,w_3531,h_3024/fill/w_106,h_91,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/IMG_0040%20(1).jpeg)
Surface sampling is carried out using a Manta net (mesh size 125 μm). The net is pulled behind the boat for 10 minutes at a speed of 2 knots. A current meter attached to the net let us know the quantity of water filtered by the net. The micro-plastics recovered measure between 125 μm and 5 mm.
![logo_maritech.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bf6a4e_235d380fb8344aa6b08a60b664cbc148~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_74,h_18,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/logo_maritech.png)