СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ ЦИКЛА УГЛЕРОДА В АЗОВСКОМ МОРЕ

Abstract

A review of the carbon cycle studies in the coastal waters of the World Ocean was carried out. The authors of the literature reviews emphasize the importance of regional studies to refine estimates of the contribution of coastal waters to the global carbon balance, as well as their response to global climate change. In addition, understanding the carbon cycle in coastal waters is necessary to address a range of environmental, social and economic issues. This work presents the results of the synthesis of scientific knowledge about different elements of the carbon cycle in the Sea of Azov: primary production of organic matter (OM), OM and calcium carbonate content in water and bottom sediments of the sea, lateral sources of organic carbon and carbonates. The highly productive Sea of Azov was mainly considered earlier in terms of its fish resources. Current understanding of the balance of organic carbon, the saturation of the waters of the Sea of Azov with free carbonic acid, and the exchange of CO2 with the atmosphere are based on estimates made in the middle of the 20th century, while changes in the ecosystem of the Sea of Azov associated with climate fluctuations and anthropogenic stress have been well documented since the mid-1980s. The following questions become relevant. Does the Sea of Azov continue to be a source of CO2 into the atmosphere? If so, why is this happening and what are the main factors; how this process is distributed in time and space; what should be expected in the future? If this is not the case, then it is important to understand what and why influenced it the most? A number of scientific hypotheses are formulated that require further development.