ELSEVIER Marine Geology 138 (1997) 1 l-25 Lipid distribution in surface sediments from the eastern central Arctic Ocean

• Main Authors: Carsten J. Schubert, Ruediger Stein
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1996
• Subjects: marginal seas are key areas for understanding the; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Makarov Basin; Svalbard; Yermak Plateau; Lomonosov Ridge; makarov basin; Phytoplankton; Sea ice; Yermak plateau
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.514.2431; http://www.eawag.ch/about/personen/homepages/schubeca/publications/1997_m_geol/

During the ARCTIC ‘91 expedition with RV Polarstern, numerous short (multicorer) and long cores (kastenlot cores), including surface sediments, were recovered along a transect crossing the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean. In this paper we present data on the concentration and distribution of short- (Ci7, C&) and long-chain (Cz7, C,,, C3i) n-alkanes as well as fatty acids ( 16:0, 16: 1, 18:0, 18:l) in the surface sediments from this transect. These compounds, among others, have been used to distinguish between autochthonous marine organic matter and allochthonous terrigenous organic matter supply. Changes in short-chain n-alkane as well as fatty acid contents of the sediments allow us to distinguish between regions characterized by higher or lower marine productivity. Organic carbon contents of the surface sediments are generally high and vary between 0.3 % and 2%. In general, the high organic carbon content of the sediments is derived from a high input of terrigenous organic matter. Marine productivity in the Arctic Ocean is mainly controlled by reduced sea-ice cover which allows a higher production rate of phytoplankton. Regions with a higher marine organic matter content are the area NW of Svalbard, the Yermak Plateau, a part of the Lomonosov Ridge and Makarov Basin, and the Morris Yesup Rise. The pattern of distribution of long-chain n-alkanes in Arctic Ocean surface sediments is mainly controlled by sea-ice and/or direct transport from the adjacent shelf areas, although dilution by turbidites influences the deep basins. 0 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.