Recent changes in sediment accumulation rates in Adventfjorden, Svalbard*

Recent sediment accumulation rates in Adventfjorden (Svalbard), a small subpolar fjord, were determined by Pb and Cs dating. Modern rates in the central basin decrease downfjord from 1.87 to 0.87 cm y−1 (2.6 to 1.19 g cm−2 y−1). Comparison of the modern values (1986–2001) with older ones (1963–86) reveals a marked increase in sediment accumulation rates in the last ten years. This correlates well with recent climate changes (warming and increase in precipitation). * The research was funded by the Polish Ministry of Scientific Research and Information Technology (State Committee for Scientific Research), grant No 6PO405621. The complete text of the paper is available at http://www.iopan.gda.pl/oceanologia/ 218 M. Zajączkowski, W. Szczuciński, R. Bojanowski Comparison with particulate matter flux data indicates that a portion of the sediment is passed on to Isfjorden.