Mzymta and Kudepsta plume survey, 2013

Repeat lidar transects across the Mzymta and Kudepsta outflows on 20 May 2013, with mineral suspended matter above 80 mg/L at the Mzymta mouth

Published figures

Interpolated campaign fields, reproduced in their original published form.

Interpolated chlorophyll a field over repeat transects off Adler, peaking on the Mzymta mouth, Sochi shelf, 20 May 2013 — Fig. 1Chlorophyll a

Interpolated suspended organic matter field over repeat transects off Adler, peaking on the Mzymta mouth, Sochi shelf, 20 May 2013 — Fig. 2Suspended organic matter

Interpolated mineral suspended matter field over repeat transects off Adler, reaching above 80 mg/L on the Mzymta mouth, Sochi shelf, 20 May 2013 — Fig. 3Mineral suspended matter

On 20 May 2013, a LIF lidar completed repeat transects across the Mzymta and Kudepsta outflows on the Sochi shelf. Both rivers carry snowmelt from the western Caucasus onto a narrow section of the Black Sea shelf.

Mineral suspended matter exceeded 80 mg/L at the Mzymta mouth and fell to near zero within approximately two kilometres. Across the same area, chlorophyll-a ranged from 0.05 to 1.25 µg/L and the suspended organic fraction from 0.6 to 6.6 mg/L. Both reached their highest values close to the river mouth.

The same shelf was surveyed on 27 May 2010. Together, the two records provide measurements from comparable points in the seasonal snowmelt period.