Structure of chemical elements deposited with atmospheric precipitation in the north of the European territory of Russia derived with multivariate analysis methods

Abstract

Data on deposition density of Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Bi, Br, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Si, Sn, Sr, Th, Tl, U, V, Zn, Cl−, NO 3 − , and SO4 4 2− in atmospheric precipitation were derived at 11 observation stations in the northern part of the European territory of Russia (ETR). Three sets (factors) of chemical indices that are mutually independent and determine the precipitation chemical content over that territory were revealed by using the hierarchical factor analysis of deposited density of chemical ingredients studied. These are two first-order factors: one is presented with the elements of a “marine” origin; the second is associated with biogenic elements. The second-order factor is formed by the ingredients characteristic of the combustion products of different fossil fuels. The structure and space-time distribution of factors are considered. The discriminant and cluster analyses allowed to classify the observation stations considered by the atmospheric precipitation chemistry and to show that Amderma, Vorkuta, Arkhangelsk, and Kargopol stations mostly differ from each other.