Concentrations and composition of aerosols and particulate matter in surface waters along the transatlantic section

Abstract

Along the transatlantic section from Ushuaia to Gdańsk (March 26–May 7, 2015; cruise 47 of R/V Akademik Ioffe), data were obtained on the concentrations of aerosols in the near-water layer of the atmosphere and of particulate matter in surface waters, as well as of organic compounds within the considered matter (C_org, chlorophyll a, lipids, and hydrocarbons). The concentrations of aerosols amounted to 1237–111 739 particles/L for the fraction of 0.3–1 μm and to 0.02–34.4 μg/m²/day for the matter collected by means of the network procedure. The distribution of aerosols is affected by circumcontinental zoning and by the fluxes from arid areas of African deserts. The maximum concentration of the treated compounds were found in the river–sea frontal area (the runoff of the Colorado River, Argentina), as well as when nearing the coasts, especially in the English Channel.