Particle fluxes, south central Black Sea : 1982-1985

Abstract

Annual particle fluxes were measured by sediment traps deployed at a station about 40 km north of Amasra, Southern Black Sea, by an international team of oceanographers from Germany, Turkey, and the United States. This experiment continuously monitored oceanic particle flux for two and a half years from October 28, 1982 to April 6, 1985 at approximately two-week intervals at 250 m and 1200 m below the surface using 1.2 m2 Mark 5-12 time-series sediment traps. The water depth at this station was about 2,200 m and both traps were situated within the anoxic layer of the Black Sea. The collected flux samples were analyzed at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to document the basic sedimentary characteristics using a quarter of each sample split. In the first data file from this experiment, total mass, carbonate, noncombustible, combustible, opal (biogenic silica), organic carbon, and organic nitrogen fluxes data are presented in bar graphs and detailed tables, in unit samples covering a two-week period at each depth. The Black Sea Sedimentation Data File is intended to provide source data on particle fluxes from this unique ocean environment for further investigation and for planning advanced research programs.