Organic carbon and carbohydrates in waters of the Amazon River, Atlantic Ocean, and Tropical Indian Ocean

A method is presented to study carbohydrate composition of marine objects involved into sedimento- and diagenesis (plankton, particulate matter, benthos, and bottom sediments). Analysis of the carbohydrates is based on consecutive separation of their fractions with different solvents (water, alkali, and acid). Ratios of carbohydrate fractions allows to evaluate lability of carbohydrate complexes. They are also usable as an indicators of biogeochemical processes in the ocean, as well of genesis and degree of transformation of organic matter in bottom sediments and nodules. Similarity in monosaccharide composition is shown for dissolved organic matter and aqueous and alkaline fractions of seston and particulate matter

(Table 3) Particulate organic carbon and carbohydrates in waters of the Amazon River and adjacent Atlantic Ocean

A method is presented to study carbohydrate composition of marine objects involved into sedimento- and diagenesis (plankton, particulate matter, benthos, and bottom sediments). Analysis of the carbohydrates is based on consecutive separation of their fractions with different solvents (water, alkali, and acid). Ratios of carbohydrate fractions allows to evaluate lability of carbohydrate complexes. They are also usable as an indicators of biogeochemical processes in the ocean, as well of genesis and degree of transformation of organic matter in bottom sediments and nodules. Similarity in monosaccharide composition is shown for dissolved organic matter and aqueous and alkaline fractions of seston and particulate matter

Hydrocarbons in surface layer bottom sediments from the North Dvina Riverand the southern part of the Dvina Bay, White Sea

Analysis of molecular composition of alkanes in bottom sediments of the southern part of Dvina Bay (White Sea) in October 2001 revealed the following main peculiarities of hydrocarbon behavior in the estuary: dominating of high molecular C23-C45 compounds and irregular distribution of hydrocarbons in bottom sediments as a result of high sedimentation rate and active hydrodynamics in the studied area

(Table 1) Contents of organic carbon and hydrocarbons in surface layer bottom sediments from the mouth of the North Dvina River and the southern part of the Dvina Bay, White Sea (October 2001)

Analysis of molecular composition of alkanes in bottom sediments of the southern part of Dvina Bay (White Sea) in October 2001 revealed the following main peculiarities of hydrocarbon behavior in the estuary: dominating of high molecular C23-C45 compounds and irregular distribution of hydrocarbons in bottom sediments as a result of high sedimentation rate and active hydrodynamics in the studied area

(Table 2) Vertical fluxes of organic carbon and sediment matter from the photic zone in the Arctic Basin

On the basis of analysis of satellite and field data collected in Russian Arctic Seas maps of distribution of primary production for different months of the vegetation period were compiled. These maps were used to estimate annual primary production of organic carbon: 55 million tons in the Barents Sea; about 20 million tons in the Kara Sea; 10-15 million tons in the Laptev Sea and in the East Siberian Sea, 42 million tons in the Chukchi Sea. In the central and eastern parts of the Barents Sea during the vegetation period values of primary production decreased by factor >5 (from >500 to <100 mg C/m**2/day). By reviewing results of studies with sediment traps vertical fluxes of organic carbon in different regions of the Arctic Basin were estimated. Significant temporal variability of Corg fluxes with maxima during phytoplankton blooms (by 830 mg C/m**2/day) was noted. Typical summer fluxes of Corg are 10-40 mg C/m**2/day in the southern Barents Sea, 1-10 mg C/m**2/day in the northern Barents Sea and in the Kara Sea, and up to 370 mg C/m**2/day in the zone of marginal filters of the Ob and Yenisey rivers