Extent, Environmental Impact and Long-term Trends in Atmospheric Contamination in the Usa Basin of East-European Russian Arctic

Abstract

Sediment cores and surface sediments from fourteen lakes locatedalong three pollution gradients in the Usa basin, north-east European Russia were analysed for diatoms, spheroidal carbonaceous particles, trace metals and water chemistry. At each site past pH was inferred using a diatom-based transfer function and critical loads for sulphur deposition were calculated using a diatom model. Lakes from the Vorkuta transectcurrently experience the highest levels of atmospheric deposition, however, results suggest that at present day sulphurdeposition levels there is no danger of lake acidification at any of the sites, due to their high buffering capacity. The sediment records show that sites from the Inta and Vorkuta transects experienced higher pollution loads 10–30 yr ago, whencoal production and mining were more intensive. There is also evidence that in the Vorkuta area atmospheric deposition mighthave led to the alkalisation of the lakes since diatom floristicchanges and an increase in inferred pH coincide with the periodof peak industrial activity.