The Areal Characteristics of Chlorophyll α Distribution in the Sediments and Seawater in the Surveyed Area, Arctic Ocean

Key words: 
• chlorophyll α

Abstract: Investigations of chlorophyll α was carried out in the seawater and sediment in the Chukchi Sea, Chukchi Plateau, the Slopflow area, the Mendeleev Ride and the Canada Basin during the 2nd Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition in the summer of 2003. The results showed that chlorophyll α concentrations were 0.002~39.008 μg/dm3 at the surveyed waters; the surface chlorophyll α concentrations were 0.037~4.644 μg/dm3 and the average value was 0.612 μg/dm3 in the surveyed area. Chlorophyll α concentrations at the depths 20~30 m of the subsurface water were higher than that in the surface and under layer. Chlorophyll α concentration distribution was obviously areal characteristics. The areal arrange order of the watercolumn chlorophyll α concentration is the Chukchi Sea > the Slopflow area > the Chukchi Plateau > the Canada Basin > the Mendeleev Ride. Chlorophyll α concentrations were 0~3.978 μg/g (wet mug) in the sediment of the surveyed stations; and the average value was 0.934 μg/g(wet mug) in 7 surveyed stations. Chlorophyll α concentrations at the surface sediments were higher than that in the underlayer. The areal arrange order of the sediments chlorophyll α concentration is the Chukchi Sea > the Slopflow area > the Mendeleev Ride, and chlorophyll α concentration can not be examined in the sediments of the Chukchi Plateau and the Canada Basin. 