Input of organic matter to the Buor-Khaya Gulf (Laptev Sea)

Abstract

We present results of study of organic matter in the coastal and bottom sediments of the Laptev Sea (Buor-Khaya Gulf). The study has shown the regularities of organic-matter distribution in the shelf zone adjacent to the glacial coast. The coast composed of a glacial rock complex supplies the largest amount of organic material to the sea as compared with other types of the coast. The average content of organic matter in these strata is ~2-3%. The bottom sediments of the shallow littoral zone are significantly depleted in organic carbon (0.1-0.3%) as a result of their active rewashing and the transition of finely dispersed material (mainly organic one) toward the deep sea zones. The content of organic carbon in the bottom sediments increases to 1-2% as the sea deepens to 7-10 m at 5-12 km from the coast. There are frequent local anomalies of organic-carbon contents (up to 4-5%) in the deltaic zones of the sea. The highest contents of organic carbon (up to 3%) have been found in the recent marine sediments in the central, relatively deep zones of the bays.