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  • Open Access

Sea-surface retention effect shapes ocean microplastic fibers

Andrea Mazzino1,* and Giuseppe Suaria2

  • *Contact author: andrea.mazzino@unige.it
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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 023283 – Published 11 June, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/6k8w-c56g

Abstract

Microfibers contaminate the global ocean, but their impact depends on length-dependent residence at the air-sea interface. In the submillimeter range, the sea surface exhibits a surface-enrichment signature: The long-to-short fiber ratio is higher at the interface than a few meters below (about 5 m), meaning that longer fibers are relatively more represented at the surface, despite an approximately length-flat fragment production expected below the fiber breakage cutoff. We show that this contrast is consistent with length-selective retention in the sea-surface microlayer via capillary pinning and attachment to sparse anchoring sites. A minimal two-state mixed-layer column model yields an approximately linear surface enrichment, reproduces the observed surface-subsurface contrast, and identifies the microlayer as a dynamic reservoir shaping residence times, exposure, and air-sea exchange of fiberlike pollutants.

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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 023283– Published 11 June, 2026
  • Received 17 November 2025
  • Accepted 29 April 2026
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

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