READ ME File For Dataset for Chapter 3, Fate and Transport of Microplastics within Estuaries Dataset DOI: 10.5258/SOTON/D1892 ReadMe Author: Jessica Stead, University of Southampton ORCID ID 000-0002-1613-659X This dataset supports the thesis entitled 'The Fate and Transport of Microplastics within Estuaries' AWARDED BY: Univeristy of Southampton DATE OF AWARD: 2021 DESCRIPTION OF THE DATA This dataset contains: Data obtained as per Stead, 2021, Chapter 3. ?ATR-FTIR data, obtained using a Perkin Elmer Spotlight 400 Imaging system fitted with a ATR accessory, and spectra processed using Spectrum software. Instrument located at the National Oceanography Centre (Southampton). Samples processed using the Oil Extraction Protocol, and analysed on a stainless steel filter. Spectra are divided into the sample they refer to. In each sample folder, there is a xlsx file which describes the particle number, particle description, the file name of the spectra, and if applicable, which folder it is saved in. They also have an abbreviated (2 sig fig) hit quality figure. Some particles were tested multiple times, and have multiple rows/spectra. Some hit quality data is unavailable due to system failures during testing, but spectra are available. The highest match was taken forward into analysis for each particle, with a hit quality of >0.795 used as an identification threshold. Some sample folders have multiple samples with the same spectra name, therefore these are split into different folders which are identified in the Particle Description xlsx. Spectra are saved as Administrator ## They are available as both sp files and csv files where possible. For some samples, only one file type was available. Samples Used: Dates are in format DD/MM/YYYY. AIRBORNE BLANK TAKEN ON THE 31/07/2019 PROCEDURAL BLANK 4 TAKEN ON THE 15/01/2020 PROCEDURAL BLANK 2 TAKEN ON THE 21/11/2019 PROCEDURAL BLANK 3 TAKEN ON THE 06/08/2019 SWAC SML FROM 15/02/2019 SWAC BULK FROM 08/02/2019 MAYFLOWER PARK SML FROM 22/02/2019 MAYFLOWER PARK BULK FROM 15/02/2019 SWAC SML FROM 10/05/2019 SWAC BULK FROM 31/05/2019 MAYFLOWER PARK SML FROM 10/05/2019 MAYFLOWER PARK BULK FROM 29/05/2019 SWAC SML FROM 09/08/2019 SWAC BULK FROM 12/08/2019 MAYFLOWER PARK SML FROM 29/07/2019 MAYFLOWER PARK BULK FROM 02/08/2019 SWAC SML FROM 08/11/2019 SWAC BULK FROM 20/11/2019 MAYFLOWER PARK SML FROM 18/11/2019 MAYFLOWER PARK BULK FROM 20/11/2019 Date of data collection: 04/02/2019 - 29/11/2019 for sample collection, 09/2020 - 11/2020 for FTIR analysis. Information about geographic location of data collection: Southampton Water Activities Centre, Floating Bridge Road, Southampton, UK, SO14 3FL Mayflower Park, Town Quay Road, Southampton, UK, SO14 2AQ PhD Studentship funded through a Leverhulme Understanding Maritime Futures Doctoral Scholarship with additional funding from the Graduate School, NOCS. Licence: CC-BY 4.0 Date that the file was created: 07/2021