The Composition of the Coarse Fraction of Aerosols in the Marine
Boundary Layer over the Laptev, Kara and Barents Seas
V.P. Shevchenko 1 , A.P. Lisitzinl, R. Stein 2 , V.V. Serova 1 , A.B. Isaeva 1 and
N.V. Politova 1
(1) P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, 23 Krasikova, 117851 Moscow, Russia
(2) Alfred-Wegener-1nstitutfur Polar- und Meeresforschung, Postfach 120161, D 27515 Bremerhaven,
Germany
Received 10 April 1997 and accepted in revised fonn 3 March 1998
Abstract - During the 49-th cruise of RN Dmitry Mendeleev in August-October 1993 and
PFS Polarstern cruise ARK XVI in July-September 1995, 22 samples of aerosols were
collected in the Laptev, Kara and Barents Seas. Aerosols were studied for particle size,
morphology, and composition. New results of this work are presented in this paper. The
average size of particles in samples collected by meshes in different areas differ
insignificantly (4.18 to 5.54 11m). In most samples mineral particles and organic matter
(fibers of vegetation, pollens, diatoms) were the main components, organic carbon content
was 17.6 % in average. The individual anthropogenic combustion spheres with diameter
from I to 10 11m mostly consist of: (I) Si, AI, K, and Fe in the South-Western Laptev
Sea; (2) Si, AI, Fe, and K in the Central Kara Sea; (3) Fe, Ni, and Si in the Southern Kara
Sea, and (4) Si, AI, Fe, and Ni in the Southern Barents Sea.
Introduction
Traditionally riverine input was assumed to be the main geochemical pathway of terrestrially
and anthropogenically derived compounds from their sources to the aquatic environment, but
there is much evidence that atmospheric inputs contribute significantly to marine areas (Duce et
a!., 1991; Lisitzin, 1996). Numerous studies have shown that aerosols in the Arctic are of
importance for atmospheric chemistry and climate (Rahn, 1981; Barrie, 1986; Leck et a!.,
1996). But up to now aerosols of the Russian Arctic were studied little. There are only few
articles devoted to aerosol composition studies on the land and islands (Rovinsky et a!., 1995;
Vinogradova, 1996). We began aerosol research in the marine boundary layer over the seas of
the Russian Arctic in 1991; first results have been published elsewhere (Shevchenko et a!.,
1995; Smirnov et a!., 1996; Serova and Gorbunova, 1997). In this paper we present and
discuss new data on particle size and composition of coarse (> 1 Jlm) insoluble fraction of Arctic
aerosols.
Material and methods
During the 49-th cruise of RJV Dmitry Mendeleev in August-October 1993 and PFS Polarstem
cruise ARK XIIl in July-September 1995, 22 samples of aerosols were collected by nylon
meshes in the Laptev, Kara and Barents Seas (Figure 1). In order to collect the aerosols, to
nylon meshes (l m 2 each; pores 0.8 mm) were raised on the mast above the bow of the ship.
To exclude contamination from the ship, sampling was interrupted when the relative wind
direction was not opposite to the ship movement. After 5 to 24 hours the meshes were fetched
down, and we removed the particles by washing the meshes in bidistilled water. Then the water
with the particles was passed through Nucleopore filters (0.45 Jlm), and the filters with
thesamples were dried at 40-45 °C. This sampling method is described in more detail by
Chester and Johnson (1971).
In: Kassens. H .• H.A. Bauch, 1. Dmitrenko, H. Eicken, H.-W. Hubberten, M. Melles, J. Thiede and L. Timokhov (eds.)
Land-Ocean Systems in the Siberian Arctic: Dynamics and History. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1999.53-59.
Boundary Layer over the Laptev, Kara and Barents Seas
V.P. Shevchenko 1 , A.P. Lisitzinl, R. Stein 2 , V.V. Serova 1 , A.B. Isaeva 1 and
N.V. Politova 1
(1) P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, 23 Krasikova, 117851 Moscow, Russia
(2) Alfred-Wegener-1nstitutfur Polar- und Meeresforschung, Postfach 120161, D 27515 Bremerhaven,
Germany
Received 10 April 1997 and accepted in revised fonn 3 March 1998
Abstract - During the 49-th cruise of RN Dmitry Mendeleev in August-October 1993 and
PFS Polarstern cruise ARK XVI in July-September 1995, 22 samples of aerosols were
collected in the Laptev, Kara and Barents Seas. Aerosols were studied for particle size,
morphology, and composition. New results of this work are presented in this paper. The
average size of particles in samples collected by meshes in different areas differ
insignificantly (4.18 to 5.54 11m). In most samples mineral particles and organic matter
(fibers of vegetation, pollens, diatoms) were the main components, organic carbon content
was 17.6 % in average. The individual anthropogenic combustion spheres with diameter
from I to 10 11m mostly consist of: (I) Si, AI, K, and Fe in the South-Western Laptev
Sea; (2) Si, AI, Fe, and K in the Central Kara Sea; (3) Fe, Ni, and Si in the Southern Kara
Sea, and (4) Si, AI, Fe, and Ni in the Southern Barents Sea.
Introduction
Traditionally riverine input was assumed to be the main geochemical pathway of terrestrially
and anthropogenically derived compounds from their sources to the aquatic environment, but
there is much evidence that atmospheric inputs contribute significantly to marine areas (Duce et
a!., 1991; Lisitzin, 1996). Numerous studies have shown that aerosols in the Arctic are of
importance for atmospheric chemistry and climate (Rahn, 1981; Barrie, 1986; Leck et a!.,
1996). But up to now aerosols of the Russian Arctic were studied little. There are only few
articles devoted to aerosol composition studies on the land and islands (Rovinsky et a!., 1995;
Vinogradova, 1996). We began aerosol research in the marine boundary layer over the seas of
the Russian Arctic in 1991; first results have been published elsewhere (Shevchenko et a!.,
1995; Smirnov et a!., 1996; Serova and Gorbunova, 1997). In this paper we present and
discuss new data on particle size and composition of coarse (> 1 Jlm) insoluble fraction of Arctic
aerosols.
Material and methods
During the 49-th cruise of RJV Dmitry Mendeleev in August-October 1993 and PFS Polarstem
cruise ARK XIIl in July-September 1995, 22 samples of aerosols were collected by nylon
meshes in the Laptev, Kara and Barents Seas (Figure 1). In order to collect the aerosols, to
nylon meshes (l m 2 each; pores 0.8 mm) were raised on the mast above the bow of the ship.
To exclude contamination from the ship, sampling was interrupted when the relative wind
direction was not opposite to the ship movement. After 5 to 24 hours the meshes were fetched
down, and we removed the particles by washing the meshes in bidistilled water. Then the water
with the particles was passed through Nucleopore filters (0.45 Jlm), and the filters with
thesamples were dried at 40-45 °C. This sampling method is described in more detail by
Chester and Johnson (1971).
In: Kassens. H .• H.A. Bauch, 1. Dmitrenko, H. Eicken, H.-W. Hubberten, M. Melles, J. Thiede and L. Timokhov (eds.)
Land-Ocean Systems in the Siberian Arctic: Dynamics and History. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1999.53-59.