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
How can science support marine biodiversity? At the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), NECCTON is putting advanced ocean forecasting at the heart of sustainable marine management....
Learn moreNew NECCTON Paper showing that merging biogeochemical observations with models improves the simulation of phytoplankton phenology and reduces uncertainty in plankton community structure & production....
Learn moreWe’re excited to announce the release of fabmos, a Python-based software package developed within NECCTON. fabmos provides new biogeochemical/ecological model testbeds that bridge the gap between fast 0D/1D models and computationally expensive high-resolution 3D simulations....
Learn moreOur latest report, Deliverable 4.2, evaluates the potential of the PRISMA satellite for marine ecosystem monitoring. We assessed PRISMA’s Level 2 products and atmospheric correction techniques (ACOLITE & POLYMER) across multiple coastal sites, comparing them with in situ measurements....
Learn moreWe’re happy to announce that NECCTON will be making a key presentation at the Copernicus Marine Service Phase 2 (2025–2028) Kick-Off Event. This event marks the beginning of a new phase of collaboration and innovation for sustainable ocean management, and NECCTON is proud to be a part of it!...
Learn moreWe’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. ...
Learn more