Suspended particle dynamics and fluxes in an Arctic fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard). (1st May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meslard, Florian; Bourrin, François; Many, Gaël; Kerhervé, Philippe
• Is Part Of: Estuarine, coastal and shelf science. Volume 204(2018)
• Page Start: 212
• Page End: 224
• Publication Date: 2018-05-01
• Subjects: Estuarine oceanography -- Periodicals; Coasts -- Periodicals; Estuarine biology -- Periodicals; Seashore biology -- Periodicals; Coasts; Estuarine biology; Estuarine oceanography; Seashore biology; Periodicals; 551.461805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2018.02.020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-7714

Abstract

Abstract: An experiment was carried out during summer 2015 in the inner part of the Kongsfjorden to study the inputs of meltwater and behaviour of associated suspended particles. We used a wide range of oceanographic instruments to assess the hydrological and hydrodynamic characteristics of coastal waters. The transfer of suspended particles occurs from a large surface plume fed by two main sources: the most important one is the upwelling of fresh and turbid water coming from a tide-water glacier: the Kronebreen, and the second one from a continental glacier: the Kongsvegen. We estimated that these two sources discharged about 2.48 ± 0.37 × 10 6 t of suspended sediments during the two months of melting. The major part of these sediments is deposited within the first kilometre due to flocculation phenomena. Flocculation is initiated below the surface turbid plume and is mainly caused by the salinity gradient and high suspended particle concentration. Finally, our estimates of suspended particle fluxes by a typical Arctic coastal glacier showed the need to consider suspended sediment fluxes from high-latitude areas into global budgets in the context of climate change. Graphical abstract: Conceptual model of the particle dynamics of a typical glacial upwelling system in front of the Kronebreen glacier into the Kongsfjorden.Image 1 Highlights: Meltwaters from Arctic glaciers highly stratify fjord waters. Melting Arctic glaciers produce large turbid plumes spreading into the fjords. Upwelling systems are the major source of water and sediments in Arctic fjords. Flocculation processes enhance and favor the settling of surface fine particles.