Deposition of atmospheric trace metals in northern Sweden as measured in the snowpack

Abstract

In late February and early March, 1984, the snowpack of northern Scandinavia, with emphasis on northern Sweden, was sampled and analyzed for trace metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) and major ions. A comparison of major ion concentrations in the snowpack and monthly precipitation samples indicates that little of the major ions have escaped from the snowpack. Presumably, this is also true for trace metals. Metal concentrations in the region decrease from the Baltic coast towards the Swedish interior. The lowest metal concentrations are found in the Swedish mountains near the Norwegian border. Concentrations in this area are comparable to concentrations found in snow in Greenland and the Euopean Arctic near Spitsbergen. The concentration of Cd, Pb, Zn and sulfate in the snowpack are highly correlated to one another, and it is concluded that the deposition of these metals in northern Sweden during winter months is due mainly to long-range transport.