Cadmium and lead in sea ice and seawater of the Amur Bay, Sea of Japan

Distribution of Cd and Pb in sea ice and in under-ice water of the Amur Bay at the end of February 1998 is considered. The metals were determined by technique of inversion voltammetry. Contribution of Cd and Pb from atmospheric precipitation and from under-ice water to sea ice examined is discussed. On the basis of analysis of vertical distribution in ice, atmospheric fluxes supplying metals to the aquatic area of the bay are estimated at 100 and 2000 µg/m**2/year for Cd and Pb, respectively. Concentrations of Cd and Pb found in middle and lower parts of ice cores allow to suggest that their accumulation relative to main ions of seawater occurs in the ice. Estimated enrichment factors of Cd and Pb in sea ice relative to seawate are ~9 and ~5. A possible mechanism of relative metal accumulation in sea ice is considered.

Production characteristics and water parameters of the Kola Bay in 2004-2005

Data on chlorophyll a concentration and phytoplankton primary production in the south Kola Bay in 2004-2005 are given.

Phytoplankton in the Nhatrang Bay, South China Sea

Species composition, phytoplankton abundance, and relative yield of variable fluorescence (F_v/F_m) were determined in the mesotrophic Nhatrang Bay in October-November 2004. Species diversity (250 taxonomic units) and heterogeneity of the phytoplankton structure were high. With respect to number of species and their abundance, diatoms prevailed. In selected parts of the bay, dinoflagellates dominated. Average biomass in the water column under 1 m**2 (Bt) varied from 2.3 to 64.4 mg C/m**3 (av. 31.0 mg C/m**3). Bt values were the lowest at stations nearest to the river mouth. Seaward, Bt increased. Bt values increased with depth at some stations and decreased at others. In surface layers biomass was lower than that in the underlying waters. F_v/F_m values ranged from 0.10 to 0.64 (av. 0.49). The lowest F_v/F_m values were observed in the area close to the seaport. Over greater part of the bay, F_v/F_m values were higher than 0.47. Such values are indicative of relatively high potential of photosynthetic activity of phytoplankton. Abundance and species diversity were higher than those in the dry season (March-April).