ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Microplastics Patch Based on Hydrodynamic
Modeling in The North Indramayu, Java Sea
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Department of Marine Science, Padjadjaran University, West Java, Indonesia
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KOMITMEN Research Group, Padjadjaran University, West Java, Indonesia
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Marine and Coastal Data Laboratory, Marine Research Center, Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs & Fisheries, Jakarta, Indonesia
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Department of Hydrography Engineering, Indonesian Naval Postgraduate School (STTAL), Jakarta, Indonesia
Submission date: 2017-08-25
Final revision date: 2017-11-14
Acceptance date: 2018-01-02
Online publication date: 2018-08-13
Publication date: 2018-11-20
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(1):135-142
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ABSTRACT
Marine debris becomes a global issue due to its impact to ecosystem, human life, and marine
environment. Microplastic is one of the marine debris types that need further attention due to its long
term effect in marine life. The aim of the study was to investigate the microplastic transport in Java Sea,
Indramayu for seven months period. The result showed that the tidal reversing current was dominant in
Java Sea, with average current speed 0.04 – 0.32 m/s. The type of tidal movement in North Indramayu,
Java Sea is mixed tide prevailing semidiurnal. The transport of microplastic has a circular-reversing
pattern due to influences from the currents and waves. According to the result of this study, the start point
of microplastics could be estimated ranges in distance 0.9 – 5.4 km from the location where they were
sampled seven months later. Microplastic that currently resides in Java Sea allegedly came from South
China Sea and Pacific Ocean. The result also indicates that Java Sea has a high probability to become the
largest microplastic patch in Indonesia due to its reversing current, which can trap those particles for a long
time (7 months microplastics mileage range of 1258.90 km – 1399.88 km), whether they originate from
other ocean region or from Indonesia itself.