Distribution, Sources, and Dynamics of Particulate Matter Along Trans?Arctic Sections

In order to better understand the sources, sinks, and hydrodynamic influences on particulate matter distribution variability in Arctic basins, we combined transmissometer data from two 2015 fall expeditions: one Bering Strait (USCGC Healy) other Barents Sea (R/V Polarstern) meeting at North Pole. These first trans-Arctic sections of beam attenuation were overlain by salinity, temperature, chlorophyll-a fluorescence (Chl-a) contours. Chl-a nitrate Particle composition analyzed filtered samples throughout full water column aided significantly discerning distribution, dynamics particles. Dense Pacific moving swiftly through erodes carries sediment-laden waters onto Chukchi Shelf into Canada Basin. This nutrient-rich sinks below a low-salinity, nutrient-poor polar mixed layer, forming thick lens high salinity known as halocline (salinity 31–33). Ice layer inhibit photosynthesis surface Makarov Basins, but subsurface maxima are observed if nutrients light available. Surface-water biomass is greater than Beaufort Gyre because Atlantic entering not isolated ice or strong stratification. Surface cools, creating high-density that cascades ?400 m basins deep Nansen Basin, eroding sediment creates patches nepheloid layers shallow basins. Intense rare, suggesting weak bottom currents.