Dynamics of siltation in the bays of northern Fennoscandia under recent Arctic warming conditions
https://doi.org/10.30758/0555-2648-2026-72-2-160-176
Abstract
The bays of northern Fennoscandia boast the most developed port infrastructure in the Arctic. Due to climate warming, the bays of northern Scandinavia and the Kola Peninsula hold enormous potential for logistics in the further development of the high latitudes. Understanding the processes and the future trends of sedimentation in individual basins is of fundamental and applied importance. Based on radioisotope dating (210Pb, 137Cs) of bottom sediments from four bays (Vefsnfjord, Malangenfjord, Yarnyshnaya Bay, and Oscar Bay), linear sedimentation rates (SAR) and mass (MAR) accumulation rates over the past century were estimated. Climate trends (Tromsø, Murmansk), the influence of the cryosphere, catchment geomorphology, and anthropogenic factors were analyzed. A relationship between sedimentation rates and temperature was found in all the basins, but the nature of the response varied. In general, the bays of northern Fennoscandia, whose catchments are not subject to glaciation or permafrost, exhibit a consistent range of sedimentation rates (SAR ≤ 0.27 cm/yr, MAR ≤ 0.26 g·cm⁻²·yr⁻¹). In Malangenfjorden, where the catchment contains actively degrading glaciers and permafrost, the SAR increased by a factor of 7.6, reaching 0.38 cm/yr, exceeding the regional sedimentation range. In Vefsnfjorden, where the catchment is not glaciated, the increase did not exceed 2.5 times (primarily anthropogenic erosion). The bays of the Kola Peninsula showed changes of 2.2-fold changes, with the peaks synchronous with the temperature maxima, and remained within the regional sedimentation range. Bays that do not have a perennial cryosphere in their catchment area maintain stable rates of sediment accumulation within a range of values and are relatively resistant to silting under conditions of rising temperatures in the Arctic. Fjords with an actively degrading perennial cryosphere may require enhanced monitoring and revision of dredging regulations in various parts of the basin.
Supporting agencies: The work was carried out within the framework of the State Assignment FMEE-2024-0016 of the Murmansk Marine Biological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (MMBI RAS): topic 188-24-01 (1.6.19) “Structural and dynamic transformations of pelagic ecosystems of Arctic marine basins under conditions of technogenic and natural environmental changes”, state registration number 124013000709-9 (30.01.2024).
About the Authors
N. I. Meshcheriakov
Murmansk Marine Biological Institute (MMBI RAS)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Murmansk
O. V. Kokin
Murmansk Marine Biological Institute (MMBI RAS); Geological Institute RAS
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Murmansk
Moscow
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For citations:
Meshcheriakov N.I., Kokin O.V. Dynamics of siltation in the bays of northern Fennoscandia under recent Arctic warming conditions. Arctic and Antarctic Research. 2026;72(2):160-176. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30758/0555-2648-2026-72-2-160-176
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