Abstract
Snowpack is a unique indicator in assessing both local and transboundary contaminants. We considered the features of the snow chemical composition of the Valday Upland, Russia, as a location without a direct influence of smelters (conditional background) in 2016–2019. We identified the influence of a number of geochemical (landscape), biological (trees of the forest zone, vegetation), and anthropogenic factors (technogenic elements—lead, nickel) on the formation of snow composition. We found increases in the content of metals of technogenic origin in city snowfall in the snowpack: cadmium, lead, and nickel in comparison with snowfall in the forest. Methods of sequential and parallel membrane filtration (in situ) were used along with ion-exchange separation to determine metal speciation (labile, unlabile, inorganic speciation with low molecular weight, connection with organic ligands) and explain their migration ability. We found that forest snow samples contain metal compounds (Cu, Pb, and Ni) with different molecular weights due to the different contributions of organic substances. According to the results of filtration, the predominant speciation of metals in the urban snow samples is suspension emission (especially more 8 mkm). The buffer abilities of snowfall in the forest (in various landscapes) and in the city of Valday were assessed. Based on statistical analysis, a significant difference in the chemical composition of snow in the forest and in the city, as well as taking into account the landscape, was shown. Snow on an open landscape on a hill is most susceptible to airborne pollution (sulfates, copper, nickel), city snow is most affected by local pollutants (turbidity, lead).
Highlights
The contents of various pollutants in the snowpackare objective indicators of air quality in winter [1]
If the snow was not subjected to intensive melting, all atmosphere pollutants would be actively accumulated and saved in various concentrations depending on the weather conditions
The selected area is the lack of local sources of pollution
Summary
The contents of various pollutants in the snowpack (copper, nickel, lead, sulfates, nutrients, etc.)are objective indicators of air quality in winter [1]. The contents of various pollutants in the snowpack (copper, nickel, lead, sulfates, nutrients, etc.). A number of properties of the snowpack (high ability to absorb, store pollution) make it convenient for understanding the migration of airborne pollutants [2]. If the snow was not subjected to intensive melting, all atmosphere pollutants (heavy metals, nitrogen oxides, sulfates) would be actively accumulated and saved in various concentrations depending on the weather conditions. Snowpack contains two to three orders more pollutants than other atmospheric precipitation [1,2,3]. Technogenic components—metal (Cu, Ni, and Cd) ions and anions (SO4 2− and NO3 − )—are of significant interest for atmospheric pollution assessment. Pollutants are characterized by different sources—located within the same place and as transboundary transfers from other locations [3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
