Microplastic Pathways in the Arctic: Integrating the TELEMAC-3D Hydrodynamic Model with Advanced Ray Tracing Particle Tracking

Abstract Microplastic pollution in the Arctic represents a critical environmental challenge, driven by the region's intricate hydrodynamics and rapidly evolving climatic conditions. This study integrates high-resolution TELEMAC-3D, TOMAWAC, and CaMPSim-3D models to analyze source-receptor pathways and identify accumulation zones for microplastics. The modeling framework incorporates wind, wave dynamics, and other processes influencing particle transport. Hydrodynamic validation was conducted via a combination of in-situ and remote sensing datasets. Results highlight potential accumulation areas and underscore the necessity of accounting for diverse transport mechanisms to accurately predict microplastic movement and deposition in Arctic waters.