Author(s): Mats A. Granskog; Hermanni Kaartokallio; Tuula Lakomaa
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Abstract: In this paper we present results from observations of geochemistry of sea ice and the snow cover in the northern parts of the Baltic Sea. The objective was to study the amount of atmospheric nutrients (N and P) and trace elements (e. g. Cd and Pb) accumulated onto the ice cover, and to study the geochemistry of sea ice in the region. From these observations we estimate the fluxes of nutrients and trace elements from sea ice to underlying waters during ice melt. Atmospheric accumulation onto the ice cover accounts for less than3% of the annual nutrient load and about 5% of the annual Cd and Pb load into the northernmost basin of the Baltic Sea (the Bothnian Bay). The amount of these substances in the seawater fraction of the sea ice cover is of the same order of magnitude. The sea ice cover acts as an temporary storage and buffer, which releases a significant amount of nutrients and trace elements into the underlying waters during ice melt. However, the fate and impact of substances of sea ice origin needs further clarification.
Year: 2002