GEOCHEMISTRY OF AEROSOLS IN THE TROPICAL ATLANTIC - RESULTS FROM THE 35TH CRUISE OF THE R V AKADEMIK MSTISLAV-KELDYSH/

Aerosols were collected by the mesh method in the tropical part of the Atlantic during the 35th cruise of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh. The particle size and chemical composition (19 elements) of the aeros ols were studied. The bulk of aerosols consists of material <2 mu m in size and their chemical composition generally corresponds to continen tal aluminosilicate material. The chemical composition of the aerosols transported from the coastal and oceanic regions of the North Atlanti c is influenced by the anthropogenic factor, which is manifested in th e increased contents of C-org and heavy metals. Comparison of the aero sol and elemental fluxes onto the ocean surface with the absolute mass es of sediments in the study area indicates that the terrigenous compo nent of the bottom sediments is formed by aerosol transport.