THE ROLE OF THE RIVER DISCHARGE IN THE FORMATION OF NUTRIENT REGIME IN THE COASTAL ZONE OF THE RUSSIAN PART OF THE BLACK-SEA

The water chemical composition in the estuaries of 45 rivers of the Ca ucasian coast of the Russian part of the Black Sea has been examined. These rivers transport to the sea about 7.185 x 10(9) m(3) of water pe r year, or 1.4% of the volume of water in coastal zone and about 1437 ton/year of phosphorus, 1634 ton/year of nitrogen and 16028 ton/year o f silicon, or 2-6% of the total supply of the nutrient salts in the co astal zone. Only the inorganic compounds were taken into account in th e calculations.