Grain-size and geochemical evidence for sediment transport mechanisms in the northeastern part of the East Siberian Sea and on the adjacent continental slope

Abstract

Grain-size analyses, end-member modeling, X-ray fluorescence, and radionuclide activity measurements were conducted on sediment minicores collected from the middle-outer shelf of the East Siberian Sea (ESS) and the upper part of the adjacent continental slope to elucidate the sedimentation mechanisms in this poorly studied region. The grain-size data demonstrate that clayey silt and silt strongly dominate on the ESS shelf and the continental slope. In contrast, sandy silt has a patchy distribution. End-member modeling, applied here for the first time, indicates that sea ice (frazil and anchor ice) rafting, and nepheloid transport are the primary processes responsible for distributing sedimentary material across the ESS. The XRF data confirm the results of previous studies, reporting a predominantly lithogenic origin for ESS deposits. Combined grain size and geochemical records suggests that the shelf break area serves as a depocenter for fine silt particles, likely supplied by nepheloid flow, and represents the most productive area in the northeastern ESS. High sea surface productivity likely results from influence of nutrient-rich Pacific-derived waters, the upwelling of transformed Atlantic-derived waters, or a combination of both. The accumulation of the high amount of fine silt near the shelf break is suggested to be related to relatively calm bottom-water conditions, resulting from the potential interaction of the northward-flowing cross-shelf currents and episodic southward-moving compensatory flows. Wind direction is considered a key factor controlling the intensity of fine-grained material distribution by nepheloid flows and anchor ice across the ESS shelf. Sedimentation rates derived from the radionuclide activity measurements vary from 1.3 mm yr⁻¹ on the outer shelf to 1.0 mm yr⁻¹ on the upper continental slope.