Regional variation in the chemical composition of winter snow pack and terricolous lichens in relation to sources of acid emissions in the Usa river basin, northeast European Russia

Abstract

The chemical composition of snow and terricolous lichens was determined along transects through the Subarctic towns of Vorkuta (130 km west–east), Inta (240 km south–north) and Usinsk (140 km, southwest–northeast) in the Usa river basin, northeast European Russia. Evidence of pollution gradients was found on two spatial scales. First, on the Inta transect, northward decreases in concentrations of N in the lichen Cladonia stellaris (from 0.57 mmol N g −1 at 90 km south to 0.43 mmol N g −1 at 130 km north of Inta) and winter deposition of non-sea salt sulphate (from 29.3 to 12.8 mol ha −1 at 90 km south and 110 km north of Inta, respectively) were attributed to long range transport of N and S from lower latitudes. Second, increased ionic content (SO 4 2−, Ca 2+, K +) and pH of snow, and modified N concentration and the concentration ratios K +:Mg 2+ and K +: (Mg 2++Ca 2+) in lichens ( Cladonia arbuscula and Flavocetraria cucullata) within ca. 25–40 km of Vorkuta and Inta were largely attributed to local deposition of alkaline coal ash. Total sulphate concentrations in snow varied from ca. 5 μmol l −1 at remote sites to ca. 19 μmol l −1 near Vorkuta. Nitrate concentration in snow (typically ca. 9 μmol l −1) did not vary with proximity to perceived pollution sources.