Spatiotemporal variability of the organic matter and the rates of its transformation in the Ob Inlet

Abstract

The data on the qualitative and quantitative variability of the organic matter (OM) and its transformation rates in the waters of the Ob Inlet during different seasons are considered. The OM distribution was quite nonuniform over the entire Ob Inlet aquatic area: the concentrations of Corg varied from 2.8 to 14.1 mg/L and from 0.32 to 4.59 mg/L for the dissolved and particulate forms, respectively. The maximum concentrations of dissolved OM were registered in the main flow of the Ob River water supplied to the bay, whereas the minimum concentrations were characteristic for the near-bottom layers formed by the Kara Sea waters of high salinity in the northern part of the bay. Both in the summer and in the autumn, the fraction of particulate matter within the total OM reached its maximum values in the mixing zone of the Taz and Ob riverine waters, as well as in the mixing zone of the Ob River and Kara Sea waters. These boundary zones were characterized by the widest variability of the elemental (C: N: P) and biochemical (proteins and carbohydrates) composition of the OM, as well as of its transformation rates measured by the activities of the enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and the electron transport system).