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Radiation-Geochemical Stability of Bottom Sediments in the Ob and Yenisei Estuaries and Adjacent Shoal Area of the Kara Sea

  • MARINE GEOLOGY
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Abstract

This paper reports the results of investigations on the radioecological state of bottom sediments of the Ob–Yenisei shoal area and Ob and Yenisei estuaries. Materials were obtained in two periods: 1995–2001 and 2014–2019 during seven expeditions on the R/V Akademik Boris Petrov, Professor Shtokman, and Akademik Mstislav Keldysh. Resampling of bottom sediment cores at key-points in areas of increased radiocesium activity and subsequent analysis of the radionuclide distribution made it possible to establish positive trends in the change of the radiation state of the regional ecosystem. The total degradation of the Ob radiocesium overactivity zone and quite significant degradation of the Yenisei zone (primarily the most polluted) were revealed. Comparison of current max-positions of specific activity in the vertical distribution of 137Cs in sediment cores made it possible to determine the sedimentation rate in the distal and proximal facies of the Yenisei estuary: 4.7–5.8 and 3.2–3.7 mm/year, respectively. The established changes that have occurred over ~20 years prove the ability of the Kara Sea ecosystem to self-purify. Pollutant diffusion and assimilation by bottom sediments play a significant role in the self-regeneration of the ecosystem. This is most intense in zone of influence of the river–sea geochemical barrier.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank the captain of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh Yu.N. Gorbach and the entire crew of this legendary ship. We are especially grateful to G.I. Nadyarnykh, who performed the labor-intensive work cycle from onboard sampling to laboratory preparation.

Funding

The study was carried out under the state task of IGEM RAS; γ-spectrometric analysis and generalization of literature data were supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project no. 18-05-60246, for implementation of the analytical program, conducting expeditionary research, and preparation of this article; project no. 18-05-00480, for the expeditionary work of the scientific group of IGEM RAS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

    A. Yu. Miroshnikov, En. E. Asadulin & Vl. B. Komarov

  2. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

    M. V. Flint

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  1. A. Yu. Miroshnikov
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  2. M. V. Flint
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  3. En. E. Asadulin
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  4. Vl. B. Komarov
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Correspondence to A. Yu. Miroshnikov.

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Miroshnikov, A.Y., Flint, M.V., Asadulin, E.E. et al. Radiation-Geochemical Stability of Bottom Sediments in the Ob and Yenisei Estuaries and Adjacent Shoal Area of the Kara Sea. Oceanology 60, 817–830 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001437020060065

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001437020060065

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