Floating marine macro-litter distribution in the Russian Arctic Seas in relation to oceanographic characteristics

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Pogojeva ◽  
Evgeniy Yakushev
Keyword(s):  
Barents Sea ◽  
Average Density ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
East Siberian Sea ◽  
Atlantic Origin ◽  
Shelf Seas ◽  
Floating Objects

<p>The main objectives of this work was the acquisition of new data on floating marine macro litter (FMML) and natural floating objects in the Arctic seas, an initial assessment of the level of pollution by FMML and an analysis of potential sources. The results of this study present the first data on FMML distribution in Russian Arctic shelf seas in relation to oceanographic conditions (i.e. position of water masses of different origin as described by temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH). The main finding of this study is that FMML was found only in the water of Atlantic origin, inflowing from the Barents Sea, where FMML average density on the observed transects was 0.92 items/ km2. Eastern parts of the study, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea and East Siberian Sea were practically free from FMML. The input from rivers appears to be negligible, at least in autumn.</p>

Characteristics of the Russian shelf seas in the Arctic Ocean regarding the content of heavy minerals in surface sediments: new data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Popova
Keyword(s):  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
Environmental Science ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Source Rocks ◽  
Heavy Minerals ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
Riverine Input ◽  
The Arctic Ocean ◽  
Shelf Seas

<p>Such factors as climate, currents, morphology, riverine input, and the source rocks influence the composition of the sediments in the Arctic Ocean. Heavy minerals being quite inert in terms of transport can reflect the geology of the source rock clearly and indicate the riverine input. There is a long history of studying the heavy mineral composition of the sediments in the Arctic Ocean. The works by Vogt (1997), Kosheleva (1999), Stein (2008), and others study the distribution of the minerals both on a sea scale and oceanwide. The current study covers Russian shelf seas: Barents, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, and Chukchi Seas. To collect the material several data sources were used: data collected by the institute VNIIOkeangeologia during numerous expeditions since 2000 for mapping the shelf, data from the old expedition reports (earlier than 2000) taken from the geological funds, and datasets from PANGAEA (www.pangaea.de). About 82 minerals and groups of minerals were included in the joint dataset. The density of the sample points varied significantly in all seas: 1394 data points in the Barents Sea, 713 in the Kara Sea, 487 in the Laptev Sea, 196 in the East Siberian Sea, and 245 in the Chukchi Sea. These data allowed comparing the areas in terms of major minerals and associations. Maps of prevailing and significant components were created in ODV (Schlitzer, 2020) to demonstrate the differences between the seas and indicate the sites of remarkable changes in the source rocks. Additionally, the standardized ratio was calculated to perform quantitative comparison: the sea average was divided by the weighted sea average and then the ratio of that number to the mineral average was found. Only the minerals present in at least four seas and amounting to at least 20 points per sea were considered. As a result, water areas with the highest content of particular minerals were detected. The ratio varied from 0 to 3,4. Combining the ratio data for various minerals allowed mapping specific groups or provinces for every sea and within the seas.</p><p> </p><p>Kosheleva, V.A., & Yashin, D.S. (1999). Bottom Sediments of the Arctic Seas. St. Petersburg: VNIIOkeangeologia, 286pp. (in Russian).</p><p>PANGAEA. Data Publisher for Earth & Environmental Science https://www.pangaea.de/</p><p>Schlitzer, R. (2020). Ocean Data View, Retrieved from https://odv.awi.de.</p><p>Stein, R. (2008). Arctic Ocean Sediments: Processes, Proxies, and Paleoenvironment. Oxford: Elsevier, 602pp.</p><p>Vogt, C. (1997). Regional and temporal variations of mineral assemblages in Arctic Ocean sediments as a climatic indicator during glacial/interglacial changes. Berichte Zur Polarforschung, 251, 309pp.</p>

scholarly journals Trends in the intensity of dense water cascading from the Arctic shelves due to ice cover reduction in the Arctic seas

2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 318-327
Author(s):  
F. K. Tuzov
Keyword(s):  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
Ice Cover ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
Dense Water ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
The Arctic Ocean ◽  
Shelf Seas

The article discusses the possible relationship between changes in the ice cover area of the shelf seas of the Arctic Ocean and the intensity of dense water cascading, based on calculation data obtained with the NEMO model for the period 1986–2010, with the findings issued at 5-day intervals and a spatial resolution of 1/10°. The cascading cases were calculated using an innovative method developed by the author. The work is based on the assumption that as the ice cover in the seas retreats, the formation of cooled dense water masses is intensified, which submerge and flow down the slope from the shelf to great depths. Thus, in the Arctic shelf seas, the mechanism of water densification due to cooling is added to the mechanism of water densification during ice formation, or, replaces it for certain regions. It was found that in the Barents Sea, the Laptev Sea and the Beaufort Sea, a decrease in the ice cover area causes an increase in the number of cases of cascading. However, in most of the Arctic seas, as the area of ice cover decreases, the number of cases of cascading also decreases. As a consequence, for the whole Arctic shelf area, the number of cases of cascading also decreases with decreasing ice cover. It is shown that in the Beaufort Sea the maximum number of cascading cases was observed in the winter period of 2007–2008, which was preceded by the summer minimum of the ice cover area in the Arctic Ocean. In the Barents Sea after 2000, a situation has been observed where the ice area has been decreasing to zero values, whereas the number of cascading cases has for some time (1 month approximately) remained close to high winter values. This possibly means that the cooling and densification of the waters in ice-free areas occurs due to thermal convection. Based on the calculation of the number of cases of cascading, it can be argued that the intensification of cascading due to a reduction in the ice cover is a feature of individual seas of the Arctic Ocean, those in which there is no excessive freshening of the upper water layer due to ice melting.

scholarly journals Aerosol characteristics over the Arctic seas of Eurasia: results of measurements in 2018 and average spatial distribution in the summer-autumn periods of 2007–2018

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. F. Radionov ◽  
D. M. Kabanov ◽  
V. V. Polkin ◽  
S. M. Sakerin ◽  
O. N. Izosimova
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
The North ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
East Siberian Sea ◽  
Barents And Kara Seas ◽  
Carbon Concentrations

In August-September 2018, on the route of the expedition “Arctic-2018” (R/V “Akademik Tryoshnikov”) in the Arctic Ocean we carried out the following cycle of measurements of aerosol characteristics: aerosol optical depth (AOD) of the atmosphere in the wavelength range of 0.34–2.14 μm, number concentrations of particles with diameters of 0.4–10 μm, and mass concentration of absorbing substance (black carbon) in the near-ground layer. The optical and microphysical characteristics of aerosol were measured using portable sun photometer SPM, photoelectric particle counter AZ-10, and aethalometer MDA. Analysis of the measurements showed that aerosol and black carbon concentrations are maximal in the atmosphere of the Barents Sea and especially in its southern part, subject to outflows of fine aerosol from the north of Europe. The average aerosol characteristics near Kola Peninsula had been 7.2 cm–3 for aerosol concentration, 167 ng/m3 for black carbon concentration, and 0.16 for AOD (0.5 μm). To estimate the specific features of the spatial variations in aerosol over the Arctic seas of Russia, we generalized the measurements in nine (2007–2018) expeditions. All aerosol characteristics are found to decrease from west toward east in the average spatial distribution. The average concentrations of aerosol are 3.5 cm–3, black carbon concentrations are 41.2 ng/m3, and AOD (0.5 μm) values are 0.080 over the Barents Sea; and they decrease to 1.96 cm–3, 24.3 ng/m3, and 0.039 respectively over the East Siberian Sea. The decreasing tendency in the northeastern direction is noted in more detailed latitude-longitude distributions of aerosol characteristics in the atmosphere over the Barents and Kara Seas.

scholarly journals Seasonal and Regional Manifestation of Arctic Sea Ice Loss

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (12) ◽  
pp. 4917-4932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid H. Onarheim ◽  
Tor Eldevik ◽  
Lars H. Smedsrud ◽  
Julienne C. Stroeve
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Arctic Sea Ice ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Sea Ice Concentration ◽  
Sea Ice Extent ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
East Siberian Sea ◽  
Shelf Seas ◽  
Perennial Ice

The Arctic Ocean is currently on a fast track toward seasonally ice-free conditions. Although most attention has been on the accelerating summer sea ice decline, large changes are also occurring in winter. This study assesses past, present, and possible future change in regional Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent throughout the year by examining sea ice concentration based on observations back to 1950, including the satellite record since 1979. At present, summer sea ice variability and change dominate in the perennial ice-covered Beaufort, Chukchi, East Siberian, Laptev, and Kara Seas, with the East Siberian Sea explaining the largest fraction of September ice loss (22%). Winter variability and change occur in the seasonally ice-covered seas farther south: the Barents Sea, Sea of Okhotsk, Greenland Sea, and Baffin Bay, with the Barents Sea carrying the largest fraction of loss in March (27%). The distinct regions of summer and winter sea ice variability and loss have generally been consistent since 1950, but appear at present to be in transformation as a result of the rapid ice loss in all seasons. As regions become seasonally ice free, future ice loss will be dominated by winter. The Kara Sea appears as the first currently perennial ice-covered sea to become ice free in September. Remaining on currently observed trends, the Arctic shelf seas are estimated to become seasonally ice free in the 2020s, and the seasonally ice-covered seas farther south to become ice free year-round from the 2050s.

scholarly journals Marine Plastic Debris Pollution in the Western Sector of the Russian Arctic

2021 ◽  
pp. 246-252
Author(s):  
Konstantin S. ZAIKOV ◽  
◽  
Nikita A. SOBOLEV ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Barents Sea ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
Marine Animals ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Commercial Activities ◽  
Other World ◽  
Living Organisms

The article discusses the pollution of marine environment with plastic waste, in particular, the accumulation of microplastics in the oceans, which is one of the most serious environmental problems both in the world and in the Russian Arctic. Alongside with other world oceans, the Arctic Ocean and the Barents Sea have become places of plastic accumulation, causing great harm to the fragile ecosystem of the Arctic region. Researchers have found microplastics not only in Arctic waters, but also in the ice of the Arctic seas. Plastic debris is carried by ocean currents from more densely populated areas of the planet. Local sources, such as fishing and other commercial activities, as well as waste water, are one more reason. Microplastics adversely affect living organisms in the ocean. In particular, plastic can cause physical harm and disrupt body formation of marine animals, as well as cause death by suffocation or ingestion of plastic. At the same time, plastics can accumulate persistent organic pollutants on their surface, which can poison marine animals, damaging the entire food chain.

Navigation in the Russian Arctic: Sea Ice Caused Difficulties and Accidents

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nataliya Marchenko
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Arctic Sea Ice ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
The North ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
Arctic Sea ◽  
Ice Conditions

The 5 Russian Arctic Seas have common features, but differ significantly from each other in the sea ice regime and navigation specifics. Navigation in the Arctic is a big challenge, especially during the winter season. However, it is necessary, due to limited natural resources elsewhere on Earth that may be easier for exploitation. Therefore sea ice is an important issue for future development. We foresee that the Arctic may become ice free in summer as a result of global warming and even light yachts will be able to pass through the Eastern Passage. There have been several such examples in the last years. But sea ice is an inherent feature of Arctic Seas in winter, it is permanently immanent for the Central Arctic Basin. That is why it is important to get appropriate knowledge about sea ice properties and operations in ice conditions. Four seas, the Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, and Chukchi have been examined in the book “Russian Arctic Seas. Navigation Condition and Accidents”, Marchenko, 2012 [1]. The book is devoted to the eastern sector of the Arctic, with a description of the seas and accidents caused by heavy ice conditions. The traditional physical-geographical characteristics, information about the navigation conditions and the main sea routes and reports on accidents that occurred in the 20th century have reviewed. An additional investigation has been performed for more recent accidents and for the Barents Sea. Considerable attention has been paid to problems associated with sea ice caused by the present development of the Arctic. Sea ice can significantly affect shipping, drilling, and the construction and operation of platforms and handling terminals. Sea ice is present in the main part of the east Arctic Sea most of the year. The Barents Sea, which is strongly influenced and warmed by the North Atlantic Current, has a natural environment that is dramatically different from those of the other Arctic seas. The main difficulties with the Barents Sea are produced by icing and storms and in the north icebergs. The ice jet is the most dangerous phenomenon in the main straits along the Northern Sea Route and in Chukchi Seas. The accidents in the Arctic Sea have been classified, described and connected with weather and ice conditions. Behaviour of the crew is taken into consideration. The following types of the ice-induced accidents are distinguished: forced drift, forced overwintering, shipwreck, and serious damage to the hull in which the crew, sometimes with the help of other crews, could still save the ship. The main reasons for shipwrecks and damages are hits of ice floes (often in rather calm ice conditions), ice nipping (compression) and drift. Such investigation is important for safety in the Arctic.

scholarly journals Atmosphere–ocean exchange of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Russian Arctic Ocean

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaowen Ji ◽  
Evgeny Abakumov ◽  
Xianchuan Xie
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Wet Deposition ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Kara Sea ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
East Siberian Sea ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

Abstract. Heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can greatly influence biotic activities and organic sources in the ocean. However, fluxes of these compounds as well as their fate, transport, and net input in the Arctic Ocean have not been thoroughly assessed. During April–November of the 2016 Russian High Latitude Expedition, 51 air (gases, aerosols, wet deposition) and water samples were collected from the Russian Arctic within the Barents Sea, Kara Sea, Leptev Sea, and East Siberian Sea. Here, we report on the Russian Arctic assessment of the occurrence in dry and wet deposition of 35 PAHs and 9 metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Hg), as well as the atmosphere–ocean fluxes of 35 PAHs and Hg0. We observed that Hg was mainly in the gas phase and Pb was most abundant in the gas phase compared with the aerosol and dissolved water phases. Mn, Fe, Pb, and Zn showed apparently higher levels than the other metals in the three phases. According to the results for the 35 detected PAHs, the concentrations of PAHs in aerosols and the dissolved water phase were about one magnitude higher than those in gas. The abundances of higher molecular weight PAHs were highest in the aerosols. Higher levels of both heavy metals and PAHs were observed in the Barents Sea, Kara Sea, and East Siberian Sea, which were close to areas with urban and industrial sites. Diagnostic ratios of phenanthrene / anthracene to fluoranthene / pyrene showed a pyrogenic source for the aerosols and gases, while the patterns for the dissolved water phase were indicative of both petrogenic and pyrogenic sources; pyrogenic sources were most prevalent in the Kara Sea and Leptev Sea. These differences between air and seawater reflect the different sources of PAHs through atmospheric transport, which included anthropogenic sources for gases and aerosols and mixtures of anthropogenic and biogenic sources along the continent in the Russian Arctic. The average dry deposition of ∑9metals and ∑35PAHs was 1749 ng m−2 d−1 and 1108 ng m−2 d−1, respectively. The average wet deposition of ∑9metals and ∑35PAHs was 33.29 μg m−2 d−1 and 221.31 μg m−2 d−1, respectively. For the atmosphere–sea exchange, the monthly atmospheric input of ∑35PAHs was estimated at 1040 tonnes. The monthly atmospheric Hg input was approximately 530 tonnes. These additional inputs of hazardous compounds may be disturbing the biochemical cycles in the Arctic Ocean.

scholarly journals Atmosphere–ocean exchange of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Russian Arctic Ocean

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (22) ◽  
pp. 13789-13807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaowen Ji ◽  
Evgeny Abakumov ◽  
Xianchuan Xie
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Wet Deposition ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Kara Sea ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
East Siberian Sea ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

Abstract. Heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can greatly influence biotic activities and organic sources in the ocean. However, fluxes of these compounds as well as their fate, transport, and net input to the Arctic Ocean have not been thoroughly assessed. During April–November of the 2016 “Russian High-Latitude Expedition”, 51 air (gases, aerosols, and wet deposition) and water samples were collected from the Russian Arctic within the Barents Sea, the Kara Sea, the Laptev Sea, and the East Siberian Sea. Here, we report on the Russian Arctic assessment of the occurrence of 35 PAHs and 9 metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Co, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Hg) in dry and wet deposition as well as the atmosphere–ocean fluxes of 35 PAHs and Hg0. We observed that Hg was mainly in the gas phase and that Pb was most abundant in the gas phase compared with the aerosol and dissolved water phases. Mn, Fe, Pb, and Zn showed higher levels than the other metals in the three phases. The concentrations of PAHs in aerosols and the dissolved water phase were approximately 1 order of magnitude higher than those in the gas phase. The abundances of higher molecular weight PAHs were highest in the aerosols. Higher levels of both heavy metals and PAHs were observed in the Barents Sea, the Kara Sea, and the East Siberian Sea, which were close to areas with urban and industrial sites. Diagnostic ratios of phenanthrene/anthracene to fluoranthene/pyrene showed a pyrogenic source for the aerosols and gases, whereas the patterns for the dissolved water phase were indicative of both petrogenic and pyrogenic sources; pyrogenic sources were most prevalent in the Kara Sea and the Laptev Sea. These differences between air and seawater reflect the different sources of PAHs through atmospheric transport, which included anthropogenic sources for gases and aerosols and mixtures of anthropogenic and biogenic sources along the continent in the Russian Arctic. The average dry deposition of ∑9 metals and ∑35 PAHs was 1749 and 1108 ng m−2 d−1, respectively. The average wet deposition of ∑9 metals and ∑35 PAHs was 33.29 and 221.31 µg m−2 d−1, respectively. For the atmosphere–sea exchange, the monthly atmospheric input of ∑35 PAHs was estimated at 1040 t. The monthly atmospheric Hg input was approximately 530 t. These additional inputs of hazardous compounds may be disturbing the biochemical cycles in the Arctic Ocean.

scholarly journals Spatial distribution of Icelus bicornis (Reinhardt, 1840) and Icelus spatula Gilbert & Burke, 1912 in the russian Arctic seas

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3-2021) ◽  
pp. 150-157
Author(s):  
S.A. Chaus ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Kara Sea ◽  
Laptev Sea ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
East Siberian Sea ◽  
The Laptev Sea

This article provides data on distribution of two circumpolar species – twohorn sculpin Icelus bicornis and spatulate sculpin Icelus spatula in the Russian Arctic seas (Barents Sea, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea) in the period from 2014 to 2019. The abundance of the twohorn sculpin varied from 2 to 18 ind/km2, and the biomass varied within 0.002–0.089 kg/km2. For the spatulate sculpin, these parameters were 2–21 ind/km2 and 0.002–0.699 kg/km2. The maximum and minimum values of these parameters for Icelus bicornis were recorded in the Laptev Sea, and for Icelus spatula in the East Siberian Sea. Information on the vertical spatial distribution of these species is also given, confirming the information given earlier that the spatulate sculpin occurs at shallower depths in contrast to the twohorn sculpin.

scholarly journals Study of microplastic pollution in the seas of the Russian Arctic and the Far East

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 16-177
Author(s):  
A.A. Ershova ◽  
◽  
T.R. Eremina ◽  
A.L. Dunayev ◽  
I.N. Makeeva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Barents Sea ◽  
Far East ◽  
World Ocean ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
Adverse Weather

The pollution of the seas in the Russian Arctic zone with micro-plastic particles is poorly studied in comparison with other areas of the World Ocean. The rapidly developing economic activity in the Arctic region threats to pollute the marine environment with plastic wastes. Arctic marine ecosystems are particularly vulnerable due to changes occurring in them under climate warming, as well as a large number of filter-feeder species in some coastal areas. The lack of observation data on the level of micro-plastic pollution in the region and methodological support for sampling requires the development of methods and approaches using the existing international experience. The paper presents preliminary results of the study carried out within the framework of the 4th stage of the TRANSARCTICA-2019 program in the Far Eastern and Arctic seas from Vladivostok to Murmansk. The authors present the analysis of existing approaches to sampling in seawaters and the possibility of their application in Russian expeditionary conditions. They describe in detail their method of sampling from a subsurface level (4—5 m) showing the advantage of using the proposed method for sampling when the vessel is moving and under adverse weather conditions. The studied quantitative and qualitative composition of the detected micro-plastic particles show that the East Siberian and Laptev seas have the lowest concentrations of micro-plastics. The largest amount of micro-plastic particles is found in the areas of intensive shipping in the Sea of Okhotsk and the Barents Sea. Comparison with existing international studies shows that the sampling method for micro-plastics strongly depends on the type of water body, its biological productivity, the level of pollution, as well as the technical capabilities of field research. All this indicates the need for intercalibration of sampling methods and further research for a more accurate quantitative and qualitative assessment of the micro-plastic pollution in the Arctic seas.

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