200
Land-Ocean Systems in the Siberian Arctic: Dynamics and History
trace metal concentrations (Martin et aI., 1993; Guieu et aI., 1996), the partitioning of trace
metals between dissolved and particulate phases (Gamier et aI., 1996), the biogeochemistry
(Cauwet and Sidorov, 1996; Lara et aI., in press), the Sr isotope geochemistry (Rachold et aI.,
in press [aD, dissolved Si concentrations and stable oxygen isotopes (Letolle et aI., 1993),
inorganic geochemistry of the suspended particulate material (Rachold et aI., 1996), and the
origin of particulate organic material (Rachold and Hubberten, this volume). However, the
other rivers draining to the Laptev Sea are scarcely studied. This article presents a complete data
set of the inorganic geochemistry of suspended particulate material (SPM) of all major rivers
draining to the Laptev Sea, i. e. the Lena, Yana, and Khatanga, as well as their major
tributaries. These data can be used to differentiate between material supplied by individual
rivers and to fingerprint the sediment transport to the Laptev Sea and further to the Arctic
Ocean.
Geology and hydrology o/the catchments
This chapter presents a short overview of the hydrological characteristics and the most
important lithologies of the Lena, Yana, and Khatanga basins (Figure 1). Detailed information
is given by Alabyan et al. (1995), Gordeev et al. (1996), and Rachold et al. (1996).
In terms of water discharge, the Lena belongs to the eight largest rivers in the world and is the
second largest among the arctic rivers after the Yenisey (Milliman and Meade, 1983). Average
annual sediment and water discharge data are presented in Figure 1 (Rachold et aI., 1996). Due
to extreme seasonal differences in temperature and precipitation (up to 100 0 C temperature
difference between summer and winter), monthly water discharge and sediment transport
exhibit strong variations. The central part of the Yana basin represents the coldest spot in the
northern hemisphere with winter temperatures as low as -70 0 C in Verkhoyansk. On average,
the Yana freezes down to its riverbed once every four years. For this reason, 99% of the clastic
material is transported during summer (June to September). The water discharge of the Yana is
approximately 20 times smaller than the Lena. Its sediment supply to the Laptev Sea, however,
can be important (Alabyan et aI., 1995) since the concentration of total SPM may be 25 times
higher than that of the Lena (up to 1000 mg/l) during high water stage. Although the Khatanga
is the second largest river draining to the Laptev Sea in terms of water discharge, its sediment
transport does not exceed 50 % of the Yana's (Figure I).
The drainage areas of the Lena, Yana, and Khatanga basins consist of three major tectonic
units: the Siberian platform, the Baikal folded region, and the Verkhoyano-Kolymean folded
region (Figure 1). The Siberian Platform is composed mainly of Cambrian and Precambrian
limestones, terrigenous sediments of Jurassic to Cretaceous age, and Quaternary alluvial
deposits. The north-western part is formed from Permian/Triassic volcanic rocks (Siberian
Trap) while the south-eastern region (Aldan highland) is composed of Archean and Proterozoic
crystalline and metamorphic rocks. The Baikal folded region consists of gneiss, shists,
quartzites, and marbleized limestones of Proterozoic age. In the Verkhoyano-Kolymean folded
region, Permian and Carboniferous terrigenous sediments as well as volcanic rocks and
granitoids of Triassic and Jurassic age are more common (Gordeev and Sidorov, 1993;
Alabyan et aI., 1995; Rachold et aI., 1996).
Samples and methods
Sampling was performed during the expeditions "Lena 94" (Rachold et aI., 1995) "LenalYana
95" (Rachold et aI., 1997), and "Khatanga 96" (Rachold et aI., in press [b]) from July 9 to July
28, 1994, June 26 to September 7, 1995 and July 14 to August 20, 1996, respectively. Water,
sediment, and SPM samples were collected at 80 stations. The Lena samples were collected
Land-Ocean Systems in the Siberian Arctic: Dynamics and History
trace metal concentrations (Martin et aI., 1993; Guieu et aI., 1996), the partitioning of trace
metals between dissolved and particulate phases (Gamier et aI., 1996), the biogeochemistry
(Cauwet and Sidorov, 1996; Lara et aI., in press), the Sr isotope geochemistry (Rachold et aI.,
in press [aD, dissolved Si concentrations and stable oxygen isotopes (Letolle et aI., 1993),
inorganic geochemistry of the suspended particulate material (Rachold et aI., 1996), and the
origin of particulate organic material (Rachold and Hubberten, this volume). However, the
other rivers draining to the Laptev Sea are scarcely studied. This article presents a complete data
set of the inorganic geochemistry of suspended particulate material (SPM) of all major rivers
draining to the Laptev Sea, i. e. the Lena, Yana, and Khatanga, as well as their major
tributaries. These data can be used to differentiate between material supplied by individual
rivers and to fingerprint the sediment transport to the Laptev Sea and further to the Arctic
Ocean.
Geology and hydrology o/the catchments
This chapter presents a short overview of the hydrological characteristics and the most
important lithologies of the Lena, Yana, and Khatanga basins (Figure 1). Detailed information
is given by Alabyan et al. (1995), Gordeev et al. (1996), and Rachold et al. (1996).
In terms of water discharge, the Lena belongs to the eight largest rivers in the world and is the
second largest among the arctic rivers after the Yenisey (Milliman and Meade, 1983). Average
annual sediment and water discharge data are presented in Figure 1 (Rachold et aI., 1996). Due
to extreme seasonal differences in temperature and precipitation (up to 100 0 C temperature
difference between summer and winter), monthly water discharge and sediment transport
exhibit strong variations. The central part of the Yana basin represents the coldest spot in the
northern hemisphere with winter temperatures as low as -70 0 C in Verkhoyansk. On average,
the Yana freezes down to its riverbed once every four years. For this reason, 99% of the clastic
material is transported during summer (June to September). The water discharge of the Yana is
approximately 20 times smaller than the Lena. Its sediment supply to the Laptev Sea, however,
can be important (Alabyan et aI., 1995) since the concentration of total SPM may be 25 times
higher than that of the Lena (up to 1000 mg/l) during high water stage. Although the Khatanga
is the second largest river draining to the Laptev Sea in terms of water discharge, its sediment
transport does not exceed 50 % of the Yana's (Figure I).
The drainage areas of the Lena, Yana, and Khatanga basins consist of three major tectonic
units: the Siberian platform, the Baikal folded region, and the Verkhoyano-Kolymean folded
region (Figure 1). The Siberian Platform is composed mainly of Cambrian and Precambrian
limestones, terrigenous sediments of Jurassic to Cretaceous age, and Quaternary alluvial
deposits. The north-western part is formed from Permian/Triassic volcanic rocks (Siberian
Trap) while the south-eastern region (Aldan highland) is composed of Archean and Proterozoic
crystalline and metamorphic rocks. The Baikal folded region consists of gneiss, shists,
quartzites, and marbleized limestones of Proterozoic age. In the Verkhoyano-Kolymean folded
region, Permian and Carboniferous terrigenous sediments as well as volcanic rocks and
granitoids of Triassic and Jurassic age are more common (Gordeev and Sidorov, 1993;
Alabyan et aI., 1995; Rachold et aI., 1996).
Samples and methods
Sampling was performed during the expeditions "Lena 94" (Rachold et aI., 1995) "LenalYana
95" (Rachold et aI., 1997), and "Khatanga 96" (Rachold et aI., in press [b]) from July 9 to July
28, 1994, June 26 to September 7, 1995 and July 14 to August 20, 1996, respectively. Water,
sediment, and SPM samples were collected at 80 stations. The Lena samples were collected