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For the first time based on determination of the geochemical occurrence forms of trace metals the main processes that control the accumulation of elements (Al, Mn, Fe, Mo, Cr, Ni, Co, Cu, Pb, Cd, and As) in the recent sediment cores from the White Sea and Barents Sea were quantified. A high-resolution study of the bottom sediment cores allowed us to estimate the short-term variations (periodicity of 10-15 years) in the accumulation of metals to reveal the periods of maximum Fe and Mn contents in the amorphous hydroxides fraction, which serve as effective adsorbents of the trace elements majority, including heavy metals. The Mn/Fe ratio in the amorphous hydroxides phase can be considered as geochemical indicators of early diagenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synchronous measurement of the total suspended organic and mineral particulate matter, together with vertical sedimentary matter flux, carried out in various areas of Yarnyschnaya Inlet (Murmansk coast of the Barents Sea) and Chupa Inlet (Karelian coast of the White Sea) revealed that the seston organic component plays no part in sedimentation, being almost completely utilized in the water column, while the majority of mineral matter is transported out of the bay. The total amount of suspended matter and its components in the water column is estimated, as well as the total flux of sedimentary matter to the bottom of Chupa and Yarnyschnaya inlets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literary data have been used to assess the inflow of petroleum hydrocarbons (with river runoff, precipitation, wastewaters, sea transport, and at ice thawing) into different regions of the White Sea. The hydroecological CNPSi-model was used as an instrument to reproduce the annual dynamics of hydrocarbon concentrations at their parallel inflow and subsequent transformation in the waters of the nine White Sea regions (the bays of Kandalaksha, Onega, Dvina, and Mezen; the Solovetskie Islands; the deep-water part: Bassein, Gorlo, Voronka, and Chupa Bay). The calculations were based on normal annual values of monthly variations of water temperature, light intensity, and transparency, the morphometric parameters of the regions (water areas, mean depths, and water volumes) and water exchange between the regions and with the Barents Sea (calculated by a hydrodynamic model). The calculated concentrations of hydrocarbons, the biomasses and activity characteristics of hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria have been analyzed (their values were estimated for the 2-m surface water layer). The results of calculations were used to evaluate hydrocarbon balances for regions and the sea as a whole. The calculations demonstrate the balanced character of hydrocarbon fluxes, the balance discrepancy for the regions being <0.1-16.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The breeding, molting, and wintering ranges of the common eider (Somateria mollissima) were mapped and described in the southern part of the Barents Sea region, including the White Sea population in the western White Sea and the Murmansk population in the northwestern White Sea and the southeastern Barents Sea. The present-day abundance was determined for both populations: since the 1950s, it was the highest in the 2000s for the entire period of ornithological monitoring in the region. Aerial survey from a helicopter is considered to be the only reliable method for estimation of the total population number. The best season for surveying the White Sea population is March-early April (wintering); the most favorable period for surveying the Murmansk population is August (postbreeding/molting). The population status of the common eider in the northern and eastern parts of the Barents Sea has not yet been evaluated. On Franz-Josef Land, the common eider is distributed sporadically, and its number was assessed using expert estimates. The current abundance of the common eider on Novaya Zemlya is unknown. Helicopter-based aerial survey performed in late summer during the postbreeding season is the only relevant method to obtain reliable estimates for the population of the common eider inhabiting Franz-Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High level of intraspecific polymorphism of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene in the Atlantic cod Gadus morhua L. from the northeastern part of the species range (Barents and White seas) is detected. The absence of genetic differentiation between the samples from different areas of the Norwegian and Barents seas is shown, and the fact that these samples belong to the same population of Northeast Arctic cod is confirmed. Significant differences in the frequences of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes between the cod from the Barents and White seas, as well as from the northwestern part of the range, are found. The cod Gadus morhua kildinensis Derjugin, 1920 from Mogilnoye Lake and Gadus morhua marisalbi Derjugin, 1920 from the White Sea were revealed to have common haplotypes with the cod from the Barents Sea, confirming the recent origin of these forms from the Atlantic cod G. morhua. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper groundwater formation conditions in the upper hydrodynamic zone of the northern coast of European part of Russia are considered. This groundwater discharges directly into the Barents and White Seas. The values of submarine discharge from European Russia into Arctic Seas, by passing river network, are estimated. Estimates of subsurface dissolved-solids discharge are given. Specific and integral characteristics of submarine discharge are analyzed. The major regularities in the formation and distribution of submarine discharge into Seas of the Arctic Ocean are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The operational model for the short-range forecast of velocity of currents and the sea level of the Barents and White seas is introduced into the automatic system of operational data processing of Hydrometcenter of Russia and works in the operational mode. The tidal block of the model is verified using eight major harmonics of the tide in the Barents and White seas. It is revealed that the model simulates adequately the large-scale features of tidal circulation in the Barents Sea. The model verification is based on the comparison between the diagnostic computation of the total sea level and the observational data on the sea level from the automatic buoy station. Demonstrated is a good agreement between the total sea level computations and the observations in the area of Teriberka settlement. The model takes account of the ice presence and simulates the ice effects on the currents. It is established that the ice presence affects significantly the amplitude and phase of tidal waves, especially in coastal regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that was conducted to analyze the spatial and temporal variability of the chlorophyll "a" (Chl. a) concentration in the White Sea in Russia. It informs that Chl. a plays a significant role in the ocean life. It analyzed the satellite data, measured the phytopigment concentrations in the water samples and compared the field and satellite data to calculate the concentration of Chl. a. It found the concentration of Chl. a in the White Sea is higher than in the Barents Sea and the Pechora Sea.

The formation conditions and the dynamics of groundwater in the upper hydrodynamic zone of the northern coast of European Russia, which discharge directly into the Barents and White seas, are analyzed. The normal annual water, ionic, and thermal runoff and the anticipated submarine groundwater runoff into the Arctic Ocean are evaluated. The stability of marine arctic methane-hydrates under the observed and anticipated climate changes is analyzed. A physical substantiation is given to the concept of climate-determined increase in submarine groundwater discharge as a possible cause of the intensification of arctic methane hydrate decomposition, which does not contradict empirical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The studies of vertical particle fluxes were performed in 2006-2007 in Dalnezelenetskaya Inlet (the Barents Sea) and Chupa Inlet (the White Sea). The average annual particle flux in Dalnezelenetskaya Inlet was 20-21 cm/(m day), or 1350-1400 mg/(m day), while, in Chupa Inlet, it was 17-18 cm/(m day), or 500-550 mg/(m day). The sedimentary matter is mostly represented by flocculent detritus less than 100 μm in size. Currently, the estimated sedimentation rate constitutes 0.9-1.1 mm per annum in the DI and 0.3-1.0 mm per annum in the Chupa Inlet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines one research which focuses on the spatial morphological variability of Oithona similis, which is considered as the most abundant small planktonic copepod in the Barents and White Seas, Russia. The said copepod was placed in four areas differing in temperature and salinity. After data analysis, it was revealed that food conditions have less effect on copepod's body size and morphological variation. Rather, water temperature and salinity variations have affected copepod's average prosome length, antennule length as well as its morphological parameters.

Fourteen microsatellite loci were employed to study the genetic structure of 34 Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations from the White and Barents seas area, the last major European region where the species has remained in its natural state. The populations were separated into four distinct clusters (Atlantic Ocean and western Barents Sea, Kola Peninsula, western White Sea, and eastern Barents Sea) within which genetic divergence varied between 0.02 and 0.10 as estimated with FST. When this structuring was contrasted with previously identified mtDNA-based groupings, a remarkable similarity was observed, implying that these four groups can be considered as a good starting point for defining management units in the region. Indeed, several approaches for assessing every population’s conservation value suggested that conservation of populations from each observed cluster would maximize preservation of the region’s genetic diversity. Furthermore, each unit may require differing management strategies, as distinct patterns of genetic diversity and divergence characteristics were detected. In addition, individual assignment success within a region was high (87%–96%), indicating that the data can be used as a baseline to differentiate individuals caught in offshore fisheries on a regional level with a relatively high degree of accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine algae populations, three expeditions (in March 2001, April 2002 and February 2003) were conducted in the Guba Chupa (Chupa Estuary; north-western White Sea), and one cruise was carried out in the open part of the White Sea in April 2003 and in the northern part of the Barents Sea in July 2001. Sea ice algae and phytoplankton composition and abundance and the content of sediment traps under the land-fast ice in the White Sea and annual and multi-year pack ice in the Barents Sea were investigated. The community in land-fast sea ice was dominated by pennate diatoms and its composition was more closely related to that of the underlying sediments than was the community of the pack ice, which was dominated by flagellates, dinoflagellates and centric diatoms. Algae were far more abundant in land-fast ice: motile benthic and ice-benthic species found favourable conditions in the ice. The pack ice community was more closely related to that of the surrounding water. It originated from plankton incorporation during sea ice formation and during seawater flood events. An additional source for ice colonization may be multi-year ice. Algae may be released from the ice during brine drainage or sea ice melting. Many sea ice algae developed spores before the ice melt. These algae were observed in the above-bottom sediment traps all year around. Three possible fates of ice algae can be distinguished: 1) suspension in the water column, 2) sinking to the bottom and 3) ingestion by herbivores in the ice, at the ice-water interface or in the water column. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluates environmental contamination and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PAH) polluting the White Sea in Russia. Concentration of PAH with six carbon in White Sea and Barent Sea; Role of aluminum smelter in polluting the White Sea; Similarity in composition of PAH compounds found in White Sea and Barents Sea.