Barrier zones of the Black Sea shelf

Multidisciplinary (hydrophysical and geochemical) studies on the shelf of t he Black Sea allowed us to recognize the principal types of frontal barrier zones with different spatiotemporal characteristics. The formation and var iability of the shelf barrier zones are mostly determined by the riverine r unoff. coastal anticyclonic eddies, upwelling, and thermohaline regime of t he shelf waters. The sediment trap technique allowed us to distinguish a th ree-step structure of the frontal barrier zones. While passing these zones, freely precipitating matter undergoes irregular quantitative and qualitati ve alterations.