Modern sedimentation processes in glacial lakes on the Spitsbergen archipelago (on the example of Lake Bretjørna)

Abstract

The paper reviews the study results of sedimentation and formation of geochemical characteristics of glacial Lake Bretjørna sediment – as the example of postglacial process in inner areas of Arctic archipelagos. Field research and sampling were carried out in the winter of 2018. The properties of sediments along the profile of the lake were analyzed. The income and accumulation of heavy metals in sediment were assessed. The lithofacies characteristics of the sediments and their spatial distribution were determined. In the paper the main geochemical characteristics of the lake bottom sediments (granulometric composition, organic matter content, as well as the accumulation of Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Fe, Mn, Hg) are considered. The correlation between the lithological composition of sediments and their micro-component content are shown. Correlation between elements and terrigenous sediments income from Northern Scandinavia and the Kola Peninsula accumulated by the glacier and snow cover of the catchment is obtained. Three associations of trace elements in the group of studied elements are distinguished.