Biological Atlas of the Arctic Seas 2000: Physical oceanography, hydrochemistry, meteorology, and plankton of the Barents and Kara Seas

Presented are physical and biological data for the region extending from the Barents Sea to the Kara Sea during 158 scientific cruises for the period 1913-1999. Maps with the temporal distribution of physical and biological variables of the Barents and Kara Seas are presented, with proposed quality control criteria for phytoplankton and zooplankton data. Changes in the plankton community structure between the 1930s, 1950s, and 1990s are discussed. Multiple tables of Arctic Seas phytoplankton and zooplankton species are presented, containing ecological and geographic characteristics for each species, and images of live cells for the dominant phytoplankton species.

Late Holocene diatom abundaces in sediment core HC-11

The study of diatoms in core HC11 collected from the southwestern part of Chukchi Sea, allowed to distinguish 3 diatoms ecological zones, reflecting paleoenvironmental changes during the last 2300 years. The sediment age was based on the sedimentation rates, determined by 210Pb and radiocarbon dating of mollusk shells. The environmental changes of Chukchi Sea revealed by examination of diatoms correlates with global climate changes - the warming of the early and middle Subatlantic and cooling of the late Subatlantic (Little Ice Age). Warming early and middle Subatlantic in the Chukchi Sea was probably stronger than the warming of the late 20th century and was not accompanied by significant changes in sea level.