Chronology of sedimentation in Colesbukta, Spitsbergen (Svalbard Archipelago): the results of the 2018 expedition

Abstract This paper presents results of a study of sedimentation in Colesbukta (Isfjorden, Spitsbergen), a typical example of sedimentation in a shallow bay of the Svalbard Archipelago. We have examined sediment samples from several cores collected in Colesbukta in May 2018. To meet the goals of thi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inIOP conference series. Earth and environmental science Vol. 937; no. 4; pp. 42081 - 42089
Main Authors Meshcheryakov, N I, Usyagina, I S, Sharin, V V, Dauvalter, V A, Dukhno, G N
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Bristol IOP Publishing 01.12.2021
Subjects
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

Loading…
More Information
Summary:Abstract This paper presents results of a study of sedimentation in Colesbukta (Isfjorden, Spitsbergen), a typical example of sedimentation in a shallow bay of the Svalbard Archipelago. We have examined sediment samples from several cores collected in Colesbukta in May 2018. To meet the goals of this study, geomorphological features of the Colesbukta catchment area have been identified and described. The lithological characteristics of bottom sediments from the study area have been described and their spatial and temporal changes analyzed. The chronology of sedimentation has been reconstructed by 210 Pb and 137 Cs. We have calculated sedimentation rates in Colesbukta and their temporal dynamics over the several latest decades. According to our estimations, the sedimentation rate has increased by 2–4 times compared to the middle of the 20th century and ranges from 0.2 to 0.46 mm/year depending on the individual conditions of sedimentation in each part of the bay. Climatic fluctuations are shown to have a direct impact on sedimentation processes in Colesbukta. We have revealed that on the periphery of the studied area the rate of sedimentation better depends on the temperature regime while in its central part it is rather a result of the amount of atmospheric precipitation.
ISSN:1755-1307
1755-1315
DOI:10.1088/1755-1315/937/4/042081