Investigation of the concentration ratios of anthropogenic metal elements in fresh snow at mountain area as a tracer for the discrimination between short- and long-range transport contributions.

Abstract

Atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic aerosols, which is concerned about several targets of SDGs, was investigated in Japan. Concentrations of trace metal elements (V, Ni, Cd, and Pb), which are index of source for fossil fuel combustion, in winter wet deposition (fresh snow) in mountain area were determined. Average concentrations of snow samples were 0.338 ± 0.289μg L-1 for V, 0.409 ± 0.724μg L-1 for Ni, 0.109 ± 0.110μg L-1 for Cd, and 1.77 ± 1.81μg L-1 for Pbμg L-1. No significant correlations between V and Ni were found for snow samples at remote mountains. A significant correlation between Cd and Pb was observed when the back trajectories of air mass deriving snowfall passed through Northeast China and Huabei. Significant correlations between V and Pb were found in mountains when the air mass passed through Northeast China and Huabei. Changes in normalized concentrations of trace metal elements in snow at the same snowfall event indicated contributions from short-range transportation in suburb area. The metal element concentration ratios were shown to be useful tracers for discrimination between short- and long-range contributions of anthropogenic elements in snow.