transect from Pesyakov Island to Meynski Zavrot Penisula (Leontyev 2003).
Vasiliev et al. (2005) report that up to 50 m cliffs at the Kolguev island are built of
fine material, sands and gravel. The shores are eroded with the speed of 0.4–3.4
m/year due strong action of waves. Lower (up to 10 m) marine terrace of Pesyakov
Island and Meynski Zavrot Penisula studied by Leontyev (2003) retreats 1–4
m/year. He estimates that 5–15 m
3 /m of the coast per year is lost due to erosion. It is
possible that the coast soils inter-corporated some contaminants. Romankevich and
Vetrov (2001) estimate that Barents Sea may receive 59 × 10
6 t year
−1 and Kara Sea
may receive even 109 × 10
6 t year
−1 of material annually from coastal erosion.
The wave activity is expected to by higher in the Arctic Ocean due to less ice
allowing longer fetch (Thomson and Rogers 2014). Increased wave activity will
cause higher erosion and possible influx of contaminants to the sea, but it is really
difficult to estimate their possible discharge to marine environment.
The degradation of coastal permafrost is believed to be important source of
organic material (Grigoriev and Rachold 2003). Since organic contaminants are
often associated with organic matter the thawing of coastal permafrost may become
the important source of these contaminants. Enhanced permafrost thawing may also
increase ground water discharge. Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) has
been recognized as an important factor influencing coastal zones and significant
source of contaminants to the marine environment (Gallagher et al. 1996;
Szymczycha et al. 2013).
2.6 Biological Transport Driven by Migrating Animals
Persistent Organic Pollutants, some trace elements (e.g. Hg) and radionuclides are
assimilated into lower level producers (phytoplankton) and then biomagnified up
trophic chains, making higher tropic level species more vulnerable to contaminant
exposure via their diet. Many Arctic animals disperse or migrate and thus are
exposed to different levels and types of contaminants (Brunström and Halldin
2000). Migrating animals are transporting man-made substances from middle latitudes to the Arctic. This process concerns mainly birds, fish and marine mammals.
The highest trophic level animals e.g. seals, whales, polar bears accumulate and
may transport contaminants, however such transport have rather local significance.
However birds can transfer contaminants fro very large distances. For instance
glaucous gull and fulmars have circumpolar distribution and may transfer contaminants in their tissues (Brunström and Halldin 2000). Birds feeding at the sea
can not only transfer contaminants for long distances but also transfer toxins from
marine to terrestrial environment (Blais et al. 2005; Evenset et al. 2004).
82
A. Pouch and A. Zaborska
Vasiliev et al. (2005) report that up to 50 m cliffs at the Kolguev island are built of
fine material, sands and gravel. The shores are eroded with the speed of 0.4–3.4
m/year due strong action of waves. Lower (up to 10 m) marine terrace of Pesyakov
Island and Meynski Zavrot Penisula studied by Leontyev (2003) retreats 1–4
m/year. He estimates that 5–15 m
3 /m of the coast per year is lost due to erosion. It is
possible that the coast soils inter-corporated some contaminants. Romankevich and
Vetrov (2001) estimate that Barents Sea may receive 59 × 10
6 t year
−1 and Kara Sea
may receive even 109 × 10
6 t year
−1 of material annually from coastal erosion.
The wave activity is expected to by higher in the Arctic Ocean due to less ice
allowing longer fetch (Thomson and Rogers 2014). Increased wave activity will
cause higher erosion and possible influx of contaminants to the sea, but it is really
difficult to estimate their possible discharge to marine environment.
The degradation of coastal permafrost is believed to be important source of
organic material (Grigoriev and Rachold 2003). Since organic contaminants are
often associated with organic matter the thawing of coastal permafrost may become
the important source of these contaminants. Enhanced permafrost thawing may also
increase ground water discharge. Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) has
been recognized as an important factor influencing coastal zones and significant
source of contaminants to the marine environment (Gallagher et al. 1996;
Szymczycha et al. 2013).
2.6 Biological Transport Driven by Migrating Animals
Persistent Organic Pollutants, some trace elements (e.g. Hg) and radionuclides are
assimilated into lower level producers (phytoplankton) and then biomagnified up
trophic chains, making higher tropic level species more vulnerable to contaminant
exposure via their diet. Many Arctic animals disperse or migrate and thus are
exposed to different levels and types of contaminants (Brunström and Halldin
2000). Migrating animals are transporting man-made substances from middle latitudes to the Arctic. This process concerns mainly birds, fish and marine mammals.
The highest trophic level animals e.g. seals, whales, polar bears accumulate and
may transport contaminants, however such transport have rather local significance.
However birds can transfer contaminants fro very large distances. For instance
glaucous gull and fulmars have circumpolar distribution and may transfer contaminants in their tissues (Brunström and Halldin 2000). Birds feeding at the sea
can not only transfer contaminants for long distances but also transfer toxins from
marine to terrestrial environment (Blais et al. 2005; Evenset et al. 2004).
82
A. Pouch and A. Zaborska