Sea-ice impact on long-term particle flux in the Greenland Sea's Is Odden-Nordbukta region, 1985-1996

Five sediment traps deployed in the Greenland Sea at a depth of 500 m betwe en 72 degrees N and 75 degrees N by the Sonderforschungsbereich 313, Kiel, Germany, provide the necessary data to compare particle flux with ambient i ce regimes. Sedimentation in this seasonally ice-covered region is dependen t upon the following three basic parameters: (1) ice concentration, (2) dur ation of ice cover, and (3) distance from the ice edge. These factors vary significantly with time and space. We develop algorithms that provide annua l sedimentation amounts for the area contained by 71 degrees N to 76 degree s N, the Greenland coast, and 10 degrees E. For a severe ice year the area of seasonal ice cover and an 80-km-wide band extending along the maximum ex tent: of the ice edge, the Biological Marginal Ice Zone (BMIZ), combine to provide 92% of the total sedimentation. For particulate organic carbon and silica this zone accounts for 89% each of the total sedimentation. In a lig ht ice year the respective percentages are 84% for dry weight, 87% for part iculate organic carbon, and 81% for biogenic particulate silica. These figu res are slightly less than sedimentation for a severe ice year. If the Is O dden-Nordbukta region is replaced by open ocean for purposes of comparison, the BMIZ out produces the open ocean for POC by a factor of 3.2. Projectin g the algorithms for the Is Odden-Nordbukta region to the rest of the Green land Sea, we conclude that the Is Odden-Nordbukta region is a substantial p roducer of sedimentation.