Elemental and organic carbon in aerosols over urbanized coastal region (southern Baltic Sea, Gdynia)

Obtained results for organic and elemental carbon fluxes showed that atmospheric aerosols can be treated, along with water run-off, as a carbon source for the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea. The enrichment of surface water was more effective in the case of organic carbon (0.27 ± 0.19 mmol m−2 d−1). Elemental carbon fluxes were one order of magnitude smaller, on average 0.03 ± 0.04 mmol m−2 d−1. We suggest that in some situations atmospheric carbon input can explain up to 18% of total carbon fluxes into the Baltic coastal waters.