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Estimating the erosion potential of seabed sediments and the magnitude of the resulting suspended load in relation to current dynamics near the shelf break is a key issue for better understanding shelf-slope sediment transport. On the outer Mackenzie Shelf (Canadian Beaufort Sea, Arctic Ocean), a thin and discontinuous veneer of recent surficial clays overlie old glaciomarine sediments that further pinch out at the shelf edge. Gas and fluid venting is known to underlie part of sediment instability in the area, but recent mooring-based measurements also indicate that sediments near the shelf break are recurrently remobilized by strong subsurface currents. Here, we relate storms to the development of current surges that resulted in the abrupt resuspension of sediments at two locations along the shelf break. Near-bottom concentrations of suspended sediments were estimated using the acoustic backscatter of high-frequency acoustic Doppler current profilers deployed from September 2011 to September 2013 as part of the Beaufort Regional Environmental Assessment (BREA) program. Near-bottom currents near the shelf edge (140 to 150 m isobaths) were characterized by recurring episodes of elevated velocities (instantaneous speeds up to ~ 40-50 cm s -1 ) that were extensions of current surges (~ 60-80 cm s -1 ) occurring in the core of the shelfbreak jet located at ca. 90-120 m. Sudden peaks in suspended sediments (above 100 g m -3 ) corresponded closely with current surges in the near-bottom boundary layer (< 10 m) implying the local erosion of surficial sediments and the rapid advection or redeposition of the resuspended sediments. A range of apparent threshold velocities from 18 to 36 cm s -1 was calculated based on the relationship between suspended sediment concentrations and near-bottom current speeds. Two meteorological scenarios were identified to explain the current surges underlying these erosion events at the shelf edge: (1) Pacific or Arctic-born low pressure systems that propagate into the southern Beaufort Sea and are associated with intense downwelling-favorable westerly winds. These amplify the eastward-setting shelfbreak jet along the upper slope, such as in September 2012 when successive cyclones developed during the record-low sea ice extent. (2) The persistence of a high-pressure system over the Beaufort Sea that causes strong upwelling-favorable easterly winds and a strengthening of anti-cyclonic ice motion. This induces a reversal of the shelfbreak jet to the west and a subsequent eastward-directed relaxation flow when the winds fade, such as during the major ice fracturing events of January to March 2013 that were associated with strong and persistent current speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resolving the mechanisms that support the transfer of particulate matter across the shelf–slope interface is a key issue for the sustainable development of marine resources along continental margins. A better comprehension of shelf–slope exchanges is particularly needed in the Arctic Ocean given the intensification of human activities and rapid environmental changes in this region. Here, we use three years of physical and biogeochemical data collected with tautline moorings deployed from September 2009 to August 2012 over the slope of the Mackenzie Shelf to identify the processes that drive the lateral transport of particulate matter off the shelf. The main dataset consists of particle flux time-series collected with automated sediments traps deployed on moorings at ~80 and ~180 m depth over the mid-slope. We detected a strong vertical discrepancy in the magnitude of particulate mass fluxes that were 20–600% higher at ~180 m than at ~80 m, and up to ~1500% greater during the winter season alone. The high fluxes at ~180 m depth were linked to several sedimentation events occurring from November to May each year, which were not captured by the upper ~80 m traps. These differences corroborate previous studies that documented active transport of resuspended material near the bottom across the shelf-break and in the mid-water column over the slope. Consideration of particle fluxes along with synchronous current time-series, water column properties and meteorological data revealed that thermohaline convection and storm winds act as the main mechanisms underlying resuspension and transport processes. Their combination drives mesoscale eddy formation, downwelling flows and current surges that are characterized by moderate to high velocities (~20–80 cm s −1 ) sufficient to mobilize sediments. Turbidity near the shelf-break and particle fluxes over the slope were particularly enhanced in winter 2011 (mass fluxes up to ~2 g m −2 d −1 ) when a persistent downwelling-favorable wind regime and a large production of winter water were observed. Overall, the amount of winter water events correlated significantly ( R 2 =0.76) with the magnitude of mass fluxes collected at ~180 m. Our analysis revealed a complex pattern of mean currents over the slope facilitating instabilities, frontal structures, shear and eddying motion. Additional work is needed on erosion mechanisms in the bottom boundary layer and their relationship to regional and mesoscale circulation and eddy activity over the upper slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]