Dry and wet atmospheric deposition of organic carbon in coastal and water areas of the northeastern part of the Sea of Azov

Abstract

The paper reports on new data focusing on organic carbon contained in aeolian material and precipitation falling on coastal and water areas of the northeastern part of the Sea of Azov. Atmospheric deposition was sampled in 2006–2014. The particulate organic carbon content varied from 4 to 27% in aeolian dust samples. The concentration of the organic carbon dissolved in rainwater was from 1.6 to 4.3 mg C/L, and from 0.9 to 16.6 mg C/L in snow. The particulate organic carbon content varied from 2 to 43% in snow. Intensity of aeolian dust settling decreased from 178 to 33 mg/m² per day with distance from a source of dust; in contrast, the relative content of organic matter increased. In a spring–summer season the aeolian organic carbon fluxes varied from 12 to 18 mg C/m² per day in Rostov-on-Don, from 28 to 48 mg C/m² per day on the Gulf of Taganrog coast, and from 20 to 80 mg C/m² per day in the water area of the Gulf of Taganrog.