Ion Content of the Snowpack on Franz Josef Land, Russia

Abstract

We investigated the seasonal snow cover at six islands of Franz Josef Land in July 1995. Samples were chemically analyzed for major ions, pH, conductivity, fluoride, acetate, formate, and methane sulfonate. The chemical composition of the snow cover was dominated by sodium and chloride, which contributed up to 70% of the ion balance. Mean nitrate concentration was about 2 &mu= L−1, and non-sea-salt sulfate ranged from 5 to 19 &mu= L−1. Ion concentrations revealed a high local and seasonal variability, with peak concentrations attributed to spring and summer snow. We also found a high local variability for the water equivalent of the snow cover, with values between 14 and 118 cm, reflecting the strong influence of wind drift and redistribution of snow. The fractionation of ions during snowmelt was followed by sampling the snow cover at Salisbury Island at three stages of the snowmelt.