White Sea Water Research Articles

Reconstruction of the Contamination and Purification of White Sea Water to Remove Global 90Sr

Contamination with 90Sr of the White Sea water in migration during 50 years is reconstructed with the use of a three-component exponential model. Т1, Т2, and Т3, the periods of half-purification of White-Sea water to remove 90Sr were 0.8, 15.4, and 29 years, respectively. During 50 years of migration, the content of 90Sr in water decreased from 41 to 2–3 Bq/m3. The maximum decrease in the content of 90Sr was observed in 1965–1968. The outflow of 90Sr in 1970 from the White Sea was 37.5, and the inflow with Barents-Sea water, 25.5 TBq. The outflow was partly compensated for by the inflow of 4 TBq of 90Sr with water of the rivers Northern Dvina, Onega, Mezen’. The White Sea water is a weak source of 90Sr for the Barents Sea. The inflow of global 90Sr with the river flow makes slower the replacement of the more contaminated White Sea water with the purer water of the Barents Sea. The determinations of 90Sr in the White Sea water (1965–2015) in terms of the exponential model have been confirmed by the results of experimental observation of 90Sr in the sea bays. During 50 years, 1.5–2 times higher concentrations of 90Sr were preserved in the semi-closed White Sea, compared with the Barents Sea.

ОПТИМИЗАЦИЯ СЕТИ ЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКОГО МОНИТОРИНГА БЕЛОГО МОРЯ

The order of the environmental monitoring stations is very important for marine water areas that characterized by high indentation of the coastline, a significant number of islands and shallows. This article proposes a methodology in order to reduce the number of monitoring stations based on zoning of the water area followed by optimization of the research vessels route. The optimization was performed using the well-known traveling salesman problem algorithm, which was improved for this case. It is shown that this approach allows to reduce the time of one survey by 15–20% on the example of monitoring the oxygen saturation in the White Sea waters.

Development of Marine Antifouling Epoxy Coating Enhanced with Clay Nanotubes.

An antifouling epoxy resin doped with natural clay nanotubes that are loaded with biocide or silver allowed extended protection against the proliferation of marine microorganisms. Compared to the 2–3 months of protection with antifoulant dichlorooctylisothiazolone (DCOIT) directly admixed into epoxy resin, the DCOIT release time of the halloysite formulations was extended to 12 months by incorporating biocide-loaded nanoclay in the polymer matrix. The protective properties of the epoxy-halloysite nanocomposites showed much less adhesion and proliferation of marine bacteria Vibrio natriegens on the resin surface after a two-month exposure to seawater than the coating formulations directly doped with non-encapsulated DCOIT. The coating formulation protection efficiency was further confirmed by twelve-month shallow field tests in the South China Sea. Replacing 2 wt.% biocide in the traditional formula with DCOIT-loaded natural environmentally friendly halloysite clay drastically improved the antifouling properties of the epoxy coating, promising scalable applications in protective marine coating. The antifouling property of epoxy resin was enhanced with silver particles synthesized on halloysite nanotubes. A natural mixture of MnO particles and halloysite could also be used as a nonbiocide additive to marine coating. The short-term White Sea water test of epoxy coating with 5% of Ag-halloysite composite of MnO-halloysite natural mixture showed no visible fouling.

134Cs, 137Cs, 40K, 232Th, 226Ra in bottom sediments of the Dvina Bay on the White Sea (the Suhoe Sea Gulf)

The Suhoe Sea Gulf is a unique White Sea water body. Taking into account the risk of contamination of the White Sea with radionuclides as a result of the activities of the domestic and foreign nuclear industry and considering the plans to construct a deep-water part of the Arkhangelsk port on the Kuya River, the content and distribution patterns of natural and man-made radionuclides in the bottom sediments of the Suhoe Sea Gulf need to be studied. The specific activity of radionuclides was measured using a PROGRESS-2000 gamma spectrometer. Statistical processing of the data was performed using the STATISTICA (data analysis software system), version 10 software by StatSoft, Inc. (2011). The average specific activity of226Ra,232Th and40K was 6.5 ± 1.4, 14.2 ± 4.3, 416 ± 89, accordingly.134Cs and137Cs were detected in 4 and 5 samples with a mean specific activity value of 3.3 ± 1.6 and 3.5 ± 1.1, respectively. The highest specific activity values of40K are confined to the pelitic deposits. The main driving force in the processes of accumulation and redistribution of232Th is gravitational water accumulation and mechanical transfer. The measured values of the specific activity of radionuclides do not exceed those previously determined by other authors in the bottom sediments of the White Sea. Correlation analysis showed a significant relationship between the content of134Cs and137Cs (0.77, p = 0.05),232Th and40K (0.67, p = 0.05) and137Cs and40K (0.84, p = 0.05). Factor analysis allowed two groups of radionuclides to be identified, their content being is determined by different processes:134Cs,137Cs, and40K are jointly controlled by the most powerful factor (50%) and232Th is affected by the weaker factor (29 %). Both factors are based on natural processes of radionuclide receipt and redistribution: the first factor reflects the ability of bottom sediments to adsorb40K and isotopes of cesium, which are similar in chemical properties, and the second one reflects the natural process of removal by rivers of232Th with terrigenous material.

Late-quaternary transgression of the White Sea as deduced from data on GIS-Based bottom relief analysis

We examine the use of geoinformation systems and relevant software applications in marine geomorphology in terms of the digital elevation model of the White Sea region. The geomorphological development of the contemporary shoreline is shown on the basis of comparing the parameters of adjacent surfaces. The technique is suggested for identifying relative tectonic deformations by determining the morphoblock division of the seabed surface. In this case, the boundaries of the time interval used in investigating the tectonic dislocations are specified indirectly by the scale coefficient of the initial digital model. This indirect relationship is determined on the basis of the well-known expression of a dependence of oscillations of a massive object in an elastic medium. By analyzing the structure of seabed relief, we determined areas with a high value of tectonic deformations for the period involved (Holocene) relative to the level of marine sedimentation. A neotectonic regionalization of the surface of the White Sea bed allowed us to identify, on the basis of statistical dependencies, large planate subhorizontal surfaces of the seabed. Upon comparing the graphical analytical information obtained with geomorphological characteristics of these surfaces, we determined four submarine terraces of an abrasion-accumulative origin and drew the corresponding boundaries within which the ancient White Sea existed over the course of the Holocene. By analyzing the position of the marine terraces, we identified a relative intensification of marine abrasion processes at a particular evolutionary stage of the water area. This is associated with a crucial marker event in the development of the White Sea water area, namely its connection with the Word Ocean in the early Holocene.

Linkages between the circulation and distribution of dissolved organic matter in the White Sea, Arctic Ocean

The White Sea is a semi-enclosed Arctic marginal sea receiving a significant loading of freshwater (225–231km3yr−1 equaling an annual runoff yield of 2.5m) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) from river run-off. We report discharge weighed values of stable oxygen isotope ratios (δ18O) of −14.0‰ in Northern Dvina river for the period 10 May–12 October 2012. We found a significant linear relationship between salinity (S) and δ18O (δ18O=−17.66±0.58+0.52±0.02×S; R2=0.96, N=162), which indicates a dominant contribution of river water to the freshwater budget and little influence of sea ice formation or melt. No apparent brine additions from sea-ice formation is evident in the White Sea deep waters as seen from a joint analysis of temperature (T), S, δ18O and aCDOM(350) data, confirming previous suggestions about strong tidal induced vertical mixing in winter being the likely source of the deep waters. We investigated properties and distribution of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the White Sea basin and coastal areas in summer. We found contrasting DOM properties in the inflowing Barents Sea waters and White Sea waters influenced by terrestrial runoff. Values of absorption by CDOM at 350nm (aCDOM(350)) and DOC (exceeding 10m−1 and 550µmoll−1, respectively) in surface waters of the White Sea basin are higher compared to other river-influenced coastal Arctic domains. Linear relationship between S and CDOM absorption, and S and DOC (DOC=959.21±52.99–25.80±1.79×S; R2=0.85; N=154) concentrations suggests conservative mixing of DOM in the White Sea. The strongest linear correlation between CDOM absorption and DOC was found in the ultraviolet (DOC=56.31±2.76+9.13±0.15×aCDOM(254); R2=0.99; N=155), which provides an easy and robust tool to trace DOC using CDOM absorption measurements as well as remote sensing algorithms. Deviations from this linear relationship in surface waters likely indicate contribution from different rivers along the coast of the White Sea. Characteristics of CDOM further indicate that there is limited removal or change in the DOM pool before it exits to the Barents Sea.

The results of measurements of heavy metals in atmospheric aerosols in the open areas of the Arctic Seas in 2009–2010

By experimental data on the concentration of toxic microelements (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, and Cr) in atmospheric aerosols over the White and Norwegian Seas in winter-spring period of 2009–2010, the contamination of air environment over two sea basins, significantly different by geographical conditions but being heavily impacted by North-European industrial centres, including the impact of the largest in the European Arctic Kola industrial centre, has been analyzed. It has been indicated and described that the air basin over the White Sea water area, when compared to the Norwegian Sea, is under a significantly greater impact of the emission sources of heavy metals, located on the Kola Peninsula.

Patterns of mercury distribution in bottom sediments along the Severnaya Dvina-White Sea section

This paper analyses the data on the distribution of mercury in the surface layer of bottom sediments (0–5 cm) obtained in course of sampling trips within the mouth region of the Severnaya Dvina River and the White Sea area. A total of 170 analyses for mercury were performed. Such wide-scale determination of the mercury content in the bottom sediments was carried out for the first time in the study region. The patterns of mercury distribution in the Severnaya Dvina River-White Sea transect are revealed and described. It is shown that the marginal filter of the Severnaya Dvina River facilitates cosedimentation of the main portion of anthropogenic mercury with suspended matter. This drastically decreases the risk of penetration of mercury to the White Sea waters and partially (with the gravity current) to the Barents Sea waters. In general, the Severnaya Dvina River is characterized by mercury pollution of a local scale within the urban territories. No regional pollution of the White Sea off the marginal filter was revealed.

New data on the structure of the central part of the White Sea paleorift system

Complex geological and geophysical data obtained during recent research by the Marine Arctic Geological Survey Expedition OJSC (MAGSE) indicate that the Riphean Chapoma graben located on the southeastern shore of the Kola Peninsula has its extension under the Gorlo Strait of the White Sea water area and joins the Leshukonsk riftogenous graben as an extended narrow trench in the crystal foundation of the platform. From this it follows that the Chapoma graben is the central segment of the White Sea paleorift system. Only the northwestern edge and probably the upper part of the graben section outcrop on the Kola Peninsula, which represents a highly elevated block of the platform foundation. To emphasize the unity of this paleorift zone, it makes sense to call it the Chapomo-Leshukonsk Paleorift in contrast to the traditional name Kerets-Leshukonsk. The echelon position of the riftogenous troughs of the Chapomo-Leshukonsk paleorift, the form itself of the Leshukonsk and Azopolsk troughs being close to pull-apart assumes their occurrence and development under transtension conditions with elements of the right-side shear along the steep northeastern edges of the grabens.

Relationship between the suspended particulate matter and microorganisms in the White Sea waters

During the summer periods of 2003–2005, the spatial and vertical distributions of the suspended particulate matter and bacteria in stratified and homogeneous waters of the White Sea was studied. The results of the study of various quantitative characteristics of the suspended particulate matter (first of all, the area of the surface and the volumetric and mass concentrations) and the abundance of microorganisms in the water are discussed. A direct correlation between the value of the surface area of the suspended particulate matter and the total number of bacteria in the water is revealed. However, it was manifested only during the early summer period of the observations and was not expressed at the end of the summer. The enhanced surface area of the suspended particulate matter can indicate the higher biochemical activity of its particles. The influence of the pelitic fraction on the bacteria abundance in different parts of the sea during the summer is estimated.

Dinoflagellate cysts in the surface sediments of the White Sea

Dinoflagellate cysts were studied in 42 samples from the surface sediments of the White Sea. The total concentration of dinocysts varies from single cysts to 25 000 cyst/g of dry sediments, which reflects the biological productivity in the White Sea waters and the regional particular features of the sedimentation processes. The highest concentrations are observed in silts; they are related to the regions of propagation of the highly productive Barents Sea waters in the White Sea. Generally, the spatial distribution of dinocysts species in the surface sediments corresponds to the distribution of the major types of water masses in the White Sea. The cysts of the relatively warm-water species (Operculodinium centrocarpum, Spiniferites sp.) of North Atlantic origin that dominate in the sediments indicate an intensive intrusion of the Barents Sea water masses to the White Sea along with hydrological dwelling conditions in the White Sea favorable for the development of these species during their vegetation period. The cold-water dinocyst assemblage (Islandinium minutum, Polykrikos sp.) is rather strictly confined to the inner parts of shallow-water bays, firstly, those adjacent to the Onega and Severnaya Dvina river mouths.

Characteristics of the Ecosystems of Water Bodies Separating from Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea

The coastal water bodies that separate from White Sea water area due to Kandalaksha coast rise are examined. The hydrological and hydrochemical characteristics of these water bodies are found to notably differ from these in the bays and straits connected with them. Extreme values of water temperature and salinity were recorded. High concentrations of oxygen (>20 mg/l) were recorded in the near-surface water layers and high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (>90 mg/l) in bottom waters. The species composition of phyto- and zooplankton was found to be poor. The characteristics of enzymatic destruction in subsurface waters of lakes are an order of magnitude greater than those in White Sea open areas.

Compounds of Reduced Inorganic Sulfur in the Waters of the White Sea and the Northern Dvina Mouth

The occurrence and distribution of reduced inorganic sulfur compounds in the waters of the White Sea and the Northern Dvina mouth are studied. Universal occurrence of micro-quantities of the above compounds in the oxic marine and fluvial waters is established. The White Sea water is found to be depleted of reduced sulfur, judging by the sum of reduced S forms (<0.5 μmol), as compared with that in the water of the Black and Baltic seas.

Structural and Functional Investigation of White Sea Water and Bottom Sediments

Statistical analysis of dynamic indices of biopolymers enzymatic destruction in unstratified and stratified White Sea water has revealed specific properties of protease and amylase activities. We analyzed the component composition and hydrolytic enzymatic activities in the surface layer of the bottom sediments (0–2 cm). The relationship between protease and amylase enzymatic activities in the surface sediments with different content of pelite fraction is discussed.

Distribution and numbers of Steller's eiders (Polysticta stelleri) during migrations and wintering in the Barents and White Sea water area.

Distribution and numbers of Steller's eiders (Polysticta stelleri) during migrations and wintering in the Barents and White Sea water area.

Some peculiar features of the hydrochemical regime and the fauna of mesohaline waters

The information available reveals pronounced changes in the ion ratio when marine and fresh waters are mixed. The critical salinity has been shown to be about 5%. in the Kara, White, Baltic, Azov, Black and, probably, Caspian Seas, and British Columbia. Corresponding results were obtained in experimental mixings of White Sea waters with a variety of fresh waters. A close connection is suggested between mixed water hydrochemistry and the existence of an eco-physiological barrier. This barrier divides, at salinities of 5 to 8%., the two basic types of aquatic animals into marine and freshwater representatives.