Trouble in Soil, Microplastics Decreasing Water Content
Location
Poster #18
Department
Environmental Science
Abstract
Understanding the causes and impacts of environmental pollution in regional climate and ecosystems is crucial to predict and mitigate future climate change effects. In particular, microplastic contamination in soils is being increasingly documented, which may have a significant effect on soil respiration and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into the atmosphere. Microplastics are small particles of plastic (usually less than 5 mm in length) that come from a variety of sources and often emerge from a combination of commercial product manufacturing (including cosmetics and clothing) and the gradual disintegration of larger plastic items, (plastic bags and bottles). Microplastics found in soils are responsible for the destruction of the soil structure; reduction of infiltration capabilities for rain and irrigation waters; and changes to soil characteristics, such as porosity, pH-value, microbial activities, and soil respiration. In this study, we used a STELLA model to simulate the effects of microplastics on soil properties to determine how much additional CO2 will be emitted from the soil to the atmosphere. STELLA is a program to build models of complex systems by connecting icons to simulate different components and processes and the relationships between them. This provides a transparent model structure where underlying equations are based on user input. We designed a STELLA model that includes two main components: the soil water system (with water movement) and CO2 dynamics in the soil. Our experiments simulate seasonal changes in soil water and CO2 emissions over a 12-month period based on boundary conditions of 30-year averaged monthly temperature and precipitation data from Illinois. We are currently in the process of implementing microplastic pathways into the model to study the direct impacts of microplastics on soil properties and quantify additional CO2 emissions from the soil to the atmosphere. The experiments help us gain a better understanding of how climate controls the balance of water and CO2 in the soil and how excessive plastic use affects environmental and climate processes. Studying these relationships will help us determine if and how microplastics affect the amount of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere and whether microplastics play a crucial role in our changing climate.
Faculty Sponsor
Nadja Insel
Trouble in Soil, Microplastics Decreasing Water Content
Poster #18
Understanding the causes and impacts of environmental pollution in regional climate and ecosystems is crucial to predict and mitigate future climate change effects. In particular, microplastic contamination in soils is being increasingly documented, which may have a significant effect on soil respiration and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into the atmosphere. Microplastics are small particles of plastic (usually less than 5 mm in length) that come from a variety of sources and often emerge from a combination of commercial product manufacturing (including cosmetics and clothing) and the gradual disintegration of larger plastic items, (plastic bags and bottles). Microplastics found in soils are responsible for the destruction of the soil structure; reduction of infiltration capabilities for rain and irrigation waters; and changes to soil characteristics, such as porosity, pH-value, microbial activities, and soil respiration. In this study, we used a STELLA model to simulate the effects of microplastics on soil properties to determine how much additional CO2 will be emitted from the soil to the atmosphere. STELLA is a program to build models of complex systems by connecting icons to simulate different components and processes and the relationships between them. This provides a transparent model structure where underlying equations are based on user input. We designed a STELLA model that includes two main components: the soil water system (with water movement) and CO2 dynamics in the soil. Our experiments simulate seasonal changes in soil water and CO2 emissions over a 12-month period based on boundary conditions of 30-year averaged monthly temperature and precipitation data from Illinois. We are currently in the process of implementing microplastic pathways into the model to study the direct impacts of microplastics on soil properties and quantify additional CO2 emissions from the soil to the atmosphere. The experiments help us gain a better understanding of how climate controls the balance of water and CO2 in the soil and how excessive plastic use affects environmental and climate processes. Studying these relationships will help us determine if and how microplastics affect the amount of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere and whether microplastics play a crucial role in our changing climate.