Microplastics in marine sediments

Status: Submitted

Definition: Microplastics are fragments of any type of plastic less than 5 mm in length. The data set consists of results of analyzes of the top layer (0-2 cm) bottom sediments in Norwegian sea and coastal areas, which show the amount of microplastic particles in surface sediments. Microplastics are measured in number of particles in 1kg sediment dry weight.

Updated: 21.04.2025
Submitter: Norwegian Mapping Authority
Owner: Geological Survey of Norway

Usage

Microplastics are common in our world today. They cause pollution by entering natural ecosystems from a variety of sources, including cosmetics, clothing, food packaging, and industrial processes. Because plastics degrade slowly (often over hundreds to thousands of years), microplastics have a high probability of ingestion, incorporation into, and accumulation in the bodies and tissues of many organisms. The toxic chemicals that come from both the ocean and runoff can also biomagnify up the food chain. Therefore it is important to map and monitore microplastics in oceans and terrestric ecosystems, to learn about distribution, sources, behavior etc., and to find the ways to reduce the microplastic pollution.

Theme: Pollution

In scope of Inspire Directive: No

DOK according to KMD-definitions: No

In scope of Norway digital agreement: Yes

Land-use plans subject to law (PBL): No

In scope of the Geodata Act: No

Mareano: No

Ecological Base Map: No

Modellbaserte vegprosjekter: No

DOK-status

DOK-status: Proposal

DOK-status date approved:

Updated: 4/21/2025 4:56:00 AM

Geodatalov status

ASSESSMENT POINT
STATUS VALUE
COMMENT
Metadata
good
Product spesification
deficient
SOSI requirement status
deficient
GML requirement status
deficient
WMS status
good
WFS status
deficient
ATOM feed status
deficient
Nedlastingskrav status
deficient