We’re excited to announce the release of plasticparcels, a cutting-edge Python package for simulating the transport and dispersion of plastics in the ocean. PlasticParcels is designed to empower researchers, modelers, and developers to advance our understanding of plastic pollution pathways and dynamics.
Key Features:
- Streamlined Workflows: A user-friendly Python notebook layer simplifies plastic dispersal simulations.
- Custom Physical Models: Includes kernels for simulating processes like Stokes drift, wind-induced drift, biofouling, and turbulent mixing.
- Global Plastic Initialisation Maps: Provides emission estimates from coastlines, river sources, and open-ocean fishing activities, alongside buoyant plastic concentration data.
Why PlasticParcels?
PlasticParcels bridges cutting-edge research and practical application. It’s tailored for:
• Easy-to-run simulations
• Rapid prototyping and development of new fine-scale physical parameterizations
• Seamless integration with hydrodynamic and biogeochemical data from the Copernicus Marine Service, as part of the NECCTON project.
The current version supports nano- and microplastics, with plans for macroplastics in future updates. Its flexibility allows users to integrate components into their own Parcels workflows, from leveraging initialisation maps to applying custom kernels.
Looking Ahead:
We aim to embed PlasticParcels within a cloud platform to enable even faster simulations and development.
This tool isn’t just a simulation engine—it’s a modular, customizable platform that allows the scientific community to tackle plastic pollution with innovation and precision.
🛠️ Dive into the tutorials, try it on your local machine or HPC. The pathways and fate of Italian coastal plastic pollution — plasticparcels documentation
A long-term study shows that common and Atlantic spotted dolphins in the Azores segregate seasonally based on sea surface temperature, with a key threshold around 21°C determining which species dominates the region....
Learn moreNECCTON has launched a suite of machine‑learning and data‑assimilation algorithms to help the Copernicus Marine Service better merge ocean models with a growing range of observations....
Learn moreThis study defines environmentally similar “provinces” to map and track changes in micronekton biomass and vertical structure from 1998 to 2023, shedding light on the seasonal and year‑to‑year variability of these key mid‑sized ocean organisms that drive deep‑sea carbon export and feed many marine predators....
Learn moreResearchers have mapped long‑term hot spots where blackspot seabream consistently gather in the western Mediterranean, identifying key areas that could support future protection measures for this overfished species with minimal impact on local fisheries....
Learn moreGovernments and marine authorities increasingly rely on accurate, forward-looking information to protect marine life, respond to climate impacts, and manage the growing pressures on our oceans....
Learn moreNECCTON News | December 2025 is out now NECCTON is entering a key phase, with nearly 30 new marine ecosystem products now being validated — spanning fisheries, pollution, benthic habitats, biogeochemistry, and climate risk. This issue highlights major scientific advances, new AI-driven tools, climate and ecosystem projections, and how NECCTON is strengthening the Copernicus Marine Service to ...
Learn more