Microfibers Accumulation within a Mediterranean Submesoscale Cyclone.

ABSTRACT: Cyclonic eddies are widespread upper ocean features known to enhance primary productivity via nutrient upwelling; yet, their role in the transport and retention of anthropogenic contaminants remains poorly understood. Here, we present high-resolution oceanographic measurements from a submesoscale cyclone in the Western Mediterranean Sea, revealing a pronounced subsurface accumulation of textile microfibers (MFs) within the eddy core (0.34 MF l^-1) relative to surrounding waters (0.09 MF l^-1). This enrichment persisted in a secondary, smaller cyclone that detaches following the main cyclone's fragmentation. Elevated chlorophyll-a concentrations in the upper 40 m, driven by isopycnal uplift, point to a coupled biological response to physical forcing. Spatial heterogeneit

SUBMITTER: Testa G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12854745 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature