Laboratory Measurements of the Wave-Induced Motion of Plastic Particles: Influence of Wave Period, Plastic Size and Plastic Density.

The transport of plastic particles from inland sources to the oceans garbage patches occurs trough coastal regions where the transport processes depend highly on wave-induced motions. In this study, experimental measurements of the plastic particles wave-induced Lagrangian drift in intermediate water depth are presented investigating the influence of the wave conditions, particle size and density on the motion of relatively large plastic particles. A large influence of the particle density is observed causing particles to float or sink for relative densities lower and larger than water respectively.