Dispersed Sedimentary Matter of the Barents Sea

Abstract

The article presents the results of studying the distribution and composition of dispersed sedimentary matter (suspended particulate matter, SPM) in the Barents Sea water column. The SPM distribution in the sea obeys the laws of circumcontinental (for surface distribution) and vertical zoning. The absolute values of the weight and volume concentrations of the SPM are low (on average, less than 0.5 mg/L and less than 0.6 mm³/L, respectively). The highest values of SPM parameters were noted in the Pechora Sea, southeasternmost part of the Barents, where the main role in sediment supply is played by coastal and bottom abrasion, as well Pechora River runoff. The vertical SPM distribution is characterized by surface and bottom peaks. Weakly expressed intrusion of the SPM-enriched nepheloid layer into deep layers was observed with a sharp drop in depth on the continental slope of the Bear Island Trench.