Distributions of in situ parameters, dissolved (in)organic carbon, and nutrients in the water column and pore waters of Arctic fjords (western Spitsbergen) during a melting season

Abstract

A nutrient distribution, such as that of phosphate (PO43-), ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3-), dissolved silica (Si), total dissolved nitrogen (TN), and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), together with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and inorganic carbon (DIC), was investigated during a high-melting season in 2021 in the western Spitsbergen fjords (Hornsund, Isfjorden, Kongsfjorden, and Krossfjorden). Both the water column and the pore water were investigated for nutrients and dissolved carbon distribution and gradients. The water column concentrations of most measured parameters, such as PO43-, NH4+, NO3-, Si, and DIC, showed significant changes among fjords and water masses. In addition, pore water gradients of PO43-, NH4+, NO3-, Si, DIC, and DOC revealed significant variability between fjords and are likely substantial sources of the investigated elements for the water column. The reported dataset reflects differences in hydrography and biogeochemical ecosystem functions of the investigated western Spitsbergen fjords and may form the base for further modeling of physical oceanographic and biogeochemical processes within these fjords. All data discussed in this communication are stored in the Zenodo online repository at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11237340 (Szymczycha et al., 2024).