Sedimentary matter and organic compounds in the aerosols and surface waters along the Transatlantic section

Concentrations and composition of suspended particulate matter and organic compounds (OC), including Сorg, lipids, hydrocarbons (HC), and pigments, were determined in the near-water aerosol layer and in surface waters on the meridional section across the Atlantic Ocean from the port of Ushuaia to the port of Gdansk (Cruise 47th of the R/V Akademic Ioffe, March 26–May, 7, 2015). It was established that the distribution of OC (except for pigments) in aerosols, in general, repeats the distribution of particle number and weight concentrations of aerosols, with maximums in the influence zone of fluxes from Patagonia and African deserts. The concentrations of aerosols changed within wide ranges: from 1237 to 111739 particles/L for 0.3–1 μm fraction; and from 0.02 to 19.890 μg/m3 for aerosols collected by network method (flux of 0.02–34.4 mg/m2 day). The contrasting mineral composition of aeolian material reflects the diversity of its provenances. In surface waters, the studied compounds were accumulated in the frontal river–sea area (runoff of the Rio-Colorado River) and with approaching the coast, especially in the English Channel. A simultaneous change of concentrations of suspended particulate matter and OC is observed only in open oceanic waters.