Pelagic processes and their relation to vertical flux have been studied in the Norwegian and Greenland Seas since 1986. Results of long-term sediment trap deployments and adjoining process studies are presented, and the underlying methodological and conceptional background is discussed. Recent extension of these investigations at the Barents Sea continental slope are also presented. With similar conditions of input irradiation and nutrient conditions, the Norwegian and Greenland Seas exhibit comparable mean annual rates of new and total production. Major differences can be found between these regions, however, in the hydrographic conditions constraining primary production and in the composition and seasonal development of the plankton. This is reflected in differences in the temporal patterns of vertical particle flux in relation to new production in the euphotic zone, the composition of particles exported and in different processes leading to their modification in the mid-water layers.In the Norwegian Sea heavy grazing pressure during early spring retards the accumulation of phytoplankton stocks and thus a mass sedimentation of diatoms that is often associated with spring blooms. This, in conjunction with the further seasonal development of zooplankton populations, serves to delay the annual peak in sedimentation to summer or autumn. Carbonate sedimentation in the Norwegian Sea, however, is significantly higher than in the Greenland Sea, where physical factors exert a greater control on phytoplankton development and the sedimentation of opal is of greater importance. In addition to these comparative long-term A. A n t i a • E. B a u e r f e i n d -O. H a u p t • W. K o e v e E. M a c h a d o • I. P e e k e n -R. Peinert ( [ ] ) -S. R e i t m e i e r C. T h o m s e n • M. W u n s c h • U. Zeller • B. Zeitzschel Institut for M e e r e s k u n d e , D t i s t e r n b r o o k e r W e g 20, D-24105 Kiel, G e r m a n y email: rpeinert@IFM.uni-kiel.d400.de B. yon B o d u n g e n • M. Voss Institut far Ostseeforschung, Seestrasse 15, D-18119 W a r n e m t i n d e , G e r m a n ystudies a case study has been carried out at the continental slope of the Barents Sea, where an emphasis was laid on the influence of resuspension and across-slope lateral transport with an analysis of suspended and sedimented material.

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Results are presented for an intercomparison of two different techniques to produce standard filter materials for the energy‐dispersive x‐ray analysis of aerosol filter samples. In one, multi‐element standard solutions were dropped on to Munktell quartz‐fibre filters and air dried. The other technique utilized an aerosol generator. The dried aerosol was deposited on the filter surface. Extensive calibration procedures were performed with both types of standards. The data were applied to the analysis of urban aerosol filter samples. The results indicated that the aerosol technique provides good accuracy even for elements of atomic numbers below 30. The dropping technique is not applicable for fibre filters and the calibration of light elements (atomic number < 30) and achieves lower accuracy. Therefore, the aerosol technique should be applied generally to the preparation of standard filters. This method provides small particles and homogeneous coatings of the multi‐element standards.

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