Influence of river water expansion on the spatial distribution of chlorophyll-a in the Kara Sea

Abstract

In August-September 2013, the thermohaline characteristics of water masses and the concentration of chlorophyll-a were studied in the Kara Sea. Expansion of surface desalinated water to the north, according to the central type, influenced the spatial distribution of chlorophyll. Beyond the boundary of the Stock Front, the average pigment concentration in the surface layer was 0.45±0.16 mg/m3. In the area affected by the surface desalinated layer, most of the chlorophyll (0 m – 1.04±0.27 mg/m3, 5 m – 0.97±0.27 mg/m3, 10 m – 0.69±0.36 mg/m3) was localized within this layer (10-17 m). High concentrations were observed in the bays of the Kara Sea. The maximum concentration of chlorophyll-a in the surface layer of the Ob Bay was 4.22 mg/m3, in the Yenisei Bay – 3.22 mg/m3.