PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND ALGOLOGICAL COMPOSITION OF SNOW COVER AT RIVER MOUTHS IN THE BASIN OF THE SOUTHERN-EASTERN PART OF THE BARENTS SEA

The composition of the snow cover in the Arctic characterizes the winter atmosphere, when long-range and ultra-long-range transport becomes dominant in the influx of aerosols. In addition, when snow occurs on the ice of a water body, the “snow — ice — under-ice water” cryosystem is formed. The components of this system mutually influence each other. In March 2023, to research the ionic and algological composition of the snow cover snow samples were taken in the estuaries of three rivers in the Nenets Autonomous Area (the Indiga River, the Pyosha River and the Pechora River). In the field, the characteristics of snow cover were identified. Snow samples were melted at room temperature, after which the pH level and mineralization were determined. Further, the concentrations of the major ions and nutrients were identified in the filtrate, as well as the species composition and abundance of microalgae. It is shown that the snow cover in the river estuaries of the southern-eastern Barents Sea has a unique composition. It is formed in conditions of close interaction with both air and water environments. In winter, in addition to the atmospheric transport of marine aerosol, seawater seeping through the ice can enrich the snow cover with salts, thereby increasing mineralization and pH levels. This effect is most clearly seen in the estuary of the Indiga River, a little less — in the estuary of the Pyosha River. Marine arctic species of diatom microalgae were found in the snow cover in the estuaries of both rivers. The development of diatoms was promoted by the concentration of nutrients, which exceeded the values limiting the development of microalgae. The main channel for the entry of microalgae can be seawater seeping through the ice during high tide.

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