Assessment of Snow Cover Pollution in the Location of Exposure to Thermal Power Facilities

Abstract

Snow geochemical survey is successfully used by many researchers to assess the air pollution of territories. The study of the chemical composition of snow cover makes it possible to reveal the spatial distribution of pollution and provide a quantitative assessment of the actual pollution of urbanized territory during the period with a stable snow cover. Enterprises of the fuel and energy complex make the main contribution to air pollution in Ulan-Ude. The research considered the results of estimation of qualitative and quantitative composition of snow cover in the zone of potential negative impact of large quarter boiler houses. The analysis of NH4+, K+, Na+, Mg2+, Ba2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Li+ cations and Cl–, NO2–, SO42–, NO3–, F–, PO43– anions distribution in snow water samples was carried out. Dust load on the examined territories has been calculated, which makes it possible to assess the volume of suspended particles deposited on the snow surface from atmospheric air during the whole period of snow accumulation.