Contribution of Atmospheric Depositions to Inventory of Nutrients in the Coastal Waters of Crimea

Abstract

Coastal zones are extremely vulnerable and, at the same time, anthropogenically pressed. Excessive enrichment of marine waters with nutrients and organic matter can lead to “red tides”, oxygen deficits, decreasing assimilation capacity, etc. The purpose of this work is to study atmospheric precipitations as a source of nutrients directly affecting waters of the coastal areas of Crimea and, ultimately, strengthening eutrophication consequences. In 2004–2008, and from 2015 to present, samples of atmospheric precipitations have been collected at the Marine Hydrometeorological Station in Sevastopol. They have been analyzed for the content of inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus, and silica. For 2009–2014, direct measurements are unavailable and a previously retrieved multiple nonlinear regression equation has been used to estimate the concentration of inorganic nitrogen in atmospheric precipitations depending on meteorological conditions, including the number of precipitations, number of days without precipitations, relative air humidity, wind direction vectors, and air temperature. Data obtained in this study have revealed that atmospheric precipitations are one of important inputs of nutrients for local areas. Their relative contribution increases on the time scale of days, while the role of rivers remains the most important on the annual scale. The contribution of atmospheric precipitations to the inventory of nutrients becomes more significant in the summer, when seasonal stratification in the water column prevents vertical mixing of waters, and the ambient concentration of nutrients in the upper layer of water is minimal.

Macro- and Microelements and the Impact of Sub-Mediterranean Downy Oak Forest Communities on Their Composition in Rainwater

“…Previously, studies were conducted on the chemical composition of rainwater in the territory of the Crimean Peninsula, in areas affected by anthropogenic factors [23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. We have investigated the influence of tree canopy on the content of biogenic elements in rainwater under environmentally pristine conditions.…”

Unveiling Air Pollution in Crimean Mountain Rivers: Analysis of Sentinel-5 Satellite Images Using Google Earth Engine (GEE)

“…There are even fewer studies of atmospheric air pollution within the basins of the Zapadnyy Bulganak, Alma, Kacha, Belbek, and Chernaya rivers; here, the majority of attention is paid instead to the study of pollution of river waters [51][52][53][54], as well as marine waters [55,56], into which rivers carry out a large quantity of pollutants. There are only a few studies of air pollution within the river basins under consideration.…”