Surface Snow Samples Research Articles

Ultratrace analysis of Antarctic snow samples by reaction cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using a total-consumption micro-sample-introduction system

In this work, a new sensitive procedure for the determination of ultratrace elements in snow samples based on quadrupole ICP-MS has been developed. After filtration through a 0.5 microm PTFE membrane (for dissolved element determination) or acidification with 0.5% nitric acid (for acid dissolvable element determination), the analytes were preconcentrated by sample volume reduction and analysed by ICP-MS. Micro-samples were efficiently introduced into the plasma source at 20 microl min(-1) uptake rate by using a PFA micronebulizer coupled to an evaporation chamber of the torch integrated sample introduction system (TISIS). As a result, the amount of sample required was about one order of magnitude lower than that required with a conventional liquid sample introduction system. In order to improve the transport efficiency, the TISIS chamber was electrically-heated at 70 degrees C and a sheathing gas stream was used to protect the aerosol from the chamber walls. Under these conditions, negative solvent plasma effects were no more severe than for conventional systems, because the total solvent plasma load was 20 mg min(-1). The operating parameters were optimized to obtain maximum sensitivity, while limiting oxides and double charge ion formation. The polyatomic interferences were removed by applying the dynamic reaction cell (DRC) technique, using ammonia as the reaction gas. Under the optimized conditions, limits of detection ranged from 0.02 to 4.5 pg g(-1), allowing the determination of Cr, V, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, Cd, Co and Cu in Antarctic snow samples. Signal repeatability was lower than 10% which prevented the use of an internal standard. Precision of the procedure ranged from 2.0% to 5.6%. The accuracy of the method was verified by the analysis of both certified reference water and surface snow samples collected in coastal and inland areas of Antarctica. The DRC program used, the short wash out and signal stabilization times registered under these conditions led to a 10 h(-1) sample throughput.

Spatial and seasonal variations of elemental composition in Mt. Everest (Qomolangma) snow/firn

In May 2005, a total of 14 surface snow (0–10 cm) samples were collected along the climbing route from the advanced base camp to the summit (6500–8844 m a.s.l.) on the northern slope of Mt. Everest (Qomolangma). A 108 m firn/ice core was retrieved from the col of the East Rongbuk Glacier (28.03°N, 86.96°E, 6518 m a.s.l.) on the north eastern saddle of Mt. Everest in September 2002. Surface snow and the upper 3.5 m firn samples from the core were analyzed for major and trace elements by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Measurements show that crustal elements dominated both surface snow and the firn core, suggesting that Everest snow chemistry is mainly influenced by crustal aerosols from local rock or prevalent spring dust storms over southern/central Asia. There are no clear trends for element variations with elevation due to local crustal aerosol inputs or redistribution of surface snow by strong winds during the spring. Seasonal variability in snow/firn elements show that high elemental concentrations occur during the non-monsoon season and low values during the monsoon season. Ca, Cr, Cs, and Sr display the most distinct seasonal variations. Elemental concentrations (especially for heavy metals) at Mt. Everest are comparable with polar sites, generally lower than in suburban areas, and far lower than in large cities. This indicates that anthropogenic activities and heavy metal pollution have little effect on the Mt. Everest atmospheric environment. Everest firn core REE concentrations are the first reported in the region and seem to be comparable with those measured in modern and Last Glacial Maximum snow/ice samples from Greenland and Antarctica, and with precipitation samples from Japan and the East China Sea. This suggests that REE concentrations measured at Everest are representative of the background atmospheric environment.

Seasonal variations in the soluble ion content of snow at Summit. Greenland: Constraints from three years of daily surface snow samples

Daily samples of the surface snow at Summit, Greenland were collected from June 1997 to April 1998 and then from August 2000 to August 2002. Concentrations of nine soluble ions (only eight in the first year) were determined in order to assess the validity of seasonal variations in snow composition at this site inferred from earlier snowpit and core studies. Strong and consistently sharp spring (April) peaks in dust, and broader summer (June–August) enhancements of NH 4 + and excess Cl - in the surface snow fully support the timing of these signals inferred from the pit profiles. Sea-salt reached maximum concentrations in the surface snow in late winter (February–March), based on averaging all three years of monthly means, but showed different patterns in winter each of the years. This is also consistent with the variable late-winter to spring timing inferred from pits. Simulated snowpit profiles constructed from the surface snow samples compared well with the ion profiles recovered from well dated snowpits sampled in this investigation, suggesting that early postdepositional changes do not greatly impact the glaciochemical records preserved at Summit. Nitrate in the real snowpits was approximately 25% lower than in simulated pits, this was the worst agreement for any ion but is consistent with several processes being known to deplete NO 3 - from near-surface snow.

Seasonal variations of pH and electrical conductivity in a snow-firn pack on Glacier No. 1, eastern Tianshan, China

Abstract Analyses of pH and electrical conductivity (EC) in surface snow and snow-firn pack samples collected successively in a weekly basis during September 2002 to September 2004 on the east branch of Glacier No. 1, eastern Tianshan, China is presented. pH and EC in surface snow show obvious seasonal variations. pH and EC values are high in spring and early summer, and they are low in late summer; moreover, pH value indicates more and less alkalinity in spring and winter, respectively. In addition, both pH and EC peaks strongly coincide with the corresponding period of greatest NE and ENE wind velocity. After deposition, pH and EC in snow-firn pack display diverse features and seasonal trends, which correlate with snow compaction, dry deposition, precipitation and temperature, and so on. Furthermore, both pH and EC peaks occur above dust layers, and are adjacent to dust layers in some snow-firn packs. This implies that dust layers may have an influence on the elution process of soluble ions. In addition, linear correlation analyses among major chemical species (Na + , K + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , NH 4 + , Cl − , SO 4 2− , NO 3 − , pH and EC) in surface snow indicate that Ca 2+ is the key ion determining pH and EC in the study area.

Seasonal variability of ionic concentrations in surface snow and elution processes in snow–firn packs at the PGPI site on Ürümqi glacier No. 1, eastern Tien Shan, China

AbstractTo investigate the effects of both non-meltwater and meltwater-related post-depositional processes on chemical species within the snow–firn pack, a research program, the Program for Glacier Processes Investigation, was initiated in July 2002 by the Tien Shan Glaciological Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The seasonal variability of the ionic concentrations in surface snow samples and ion elution behavior in the snow–firn pack were assessed from surface samples collected year-round and 1011 samples collected from a snow pit at weekly intervals from September 2003 through September 2004. The results indicate that elevated ionic concentrations in spring and summer result from Asian dust-storm-derived aerosol input and other aerosols entrained in precipitation. Potential sources of these chemical species are explored using correlation and factor analyses. The elution sequence through the snow–firn pack was determined to be SO42– >Ca2+> Na+>NO3− >Cl−>K+> Mg2+ >NH4+. The elution of ions at the sampling site was found to be driven primarily by air temperature and became evident when a diurnal mean temperature of –3.6˚C was attained. At 0.3˚C all of the year-round new ionic input was leached from the snow.

Spatial patterns and seasonal variation of snowpack sulphate isotopes of the Prince of Wales Icefield, Ellesmere Island, Canada

AbstractIon-chemistry and sulphate-isotope values for snow samples from the Prince of Wales Icefield, Ellesmere Island, Canada, show distinct seasonal trends and spatial patterns. Sixteen surface snow samples from two transects, and 30 samples from five depth profiles, representing fall 2003 to spring 2004 accumulation, have been analyzed. Surface snow samples show decreasing SO42– and Na+ concentrations along with decreasing δ34S values with distance inland and increased elevation. These trends follow an expected pattern of decreasing sea-salt aerosol impact with greater vertical and horizontal distance from sea-water sources. Depth-profile total sulphate and non-sea-salt sulphate increase in concentration with height in the snowpack, and these results, combined with δ34S values that are more positive in fall snow, are consistent with increased amounts of anthropogenic sulphate in surface spring snow. Sulphate apportionment was performed on surface snow assuming an isotopically light sulphate source (anthropogenic plus volcanic) mixed with isotopically heavier sulphate from dimethylsulphide (DMS) oxidation and sea water. Isotopically light sulphate in surface snow was apparent at all elevations at a reasonably uniform concentration. DMS sulphate, however, decreased exponentially with altitude, reflecting an ocean level source with oxidation occurring during transport and deposition. The significance to multi-year deposition studies is that sulphate from DMS oxidation may be related to sea-ice conditions in the region.

Seasonal variations in oxygen isotope ratios of daily collected precipitation and wind drift samples and in the final snow cover at Dome Fuji Station, Antarctica

Freshly fallen snow, drifting snow, and surface snow samples were collected between February 1997 and January 1998 at the Dome Fuji Station (77.19°S, 39.42°E, 3,810 meters above sea level (MASL)) located approximately 1000 km from the nearest coast. All the collected samples were analyzed for δ18O at the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) at Tokyo. The temperature at the top of the boundary layer (TBL) was measured at least twice a week. As expected, all collected samples show seasonal variations with higher values in summer and lower values in winter. However, the relationship with the surface air temperature (Ta) was found to be different for each species of samples. During the sampling year, the surface air temperature, which was measured using the classical methods, was found to be about 3°C higher than the mean surface temperature Ts, defined as the firn layer temperature at 10 m depth. One important process that leads to differences between the freshly deposited snow and the surface firn layer is the sublimation of air moisture during the winter months. Remarkable progress has recently been made to explain the δ2H and δ18O distribution patterns for Polar Regions with GCMs. Detailed observations at the Dome Fuji station reveal that δ18O values for the individual snowfalls are only partly explained by the improved Rayleigh type models, and that the processes after snow deposition also have to be taken into account.

Spatial variations of surface snow chemistry during two austral summers in western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

Abstract The glaciochemical properties of snow were measured in western Dronning Maud Land during the austral summers of 1999/2000 and 2000/2001. The surface snow samples were taken along a 350-km transect from the seaward edge of the ice shelf to the Antarctic plateau and analysed for the presence of the major inorganic components SO 4 2− , NO 3 − , Cl − , NH 4 + , Na + , K + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ and MSA. The sea-salt components and MSA decreased exponentially with increasing distance from the coast by about 64%/100 km. Non-sea-salt SO 4 2− decreased also exponentially with the distance from the ice edge by 48%/100 km. No substantial trend was observed for NO 3 − . The pH values calculated from the ionic balance were similar to those measured in the field, although the calculated pH values were an average of 0.6 lower. The fractions of the dry deposition of the ionic concentrations were estimated and the results reveal that they are low near the Finnish research station Aboa, usually less than 10% of the total deposition.

CHEMICAL COMPONENTS IN RIME ON MT. MORIYOSHI IN NORTHERN JAPAN

In order to shed light on the long-range transport of atmospheric pollutants in the Northeast Asian regions, we studied the chemical components in rime and fresh surface snow on Mt. Moriyoshi (altitude: 1454 m), located on the Sea of Japan side of northern Honshu, Japan, near Northwest China and Southwest Russia. Rime and fresh surface snow samples were collected at Juhyou-Daira (near the summit; altitude: 1200 m) in February 2004. The pH range of rime samples was 4.2 – 4.9, and the electric conductivity (EC) range was 52 – 282 μS/cm. On the other hand, the pH range of snow samples was 4.5 – 4.9, and the EC range was 17 – 77 μS/cm. The elemental compositions, ionic species and particle shapes of these samples were determined and/or observed by PIXE, ion chromatography and SEM-EDX analysis. PIXE analysis of the rime and snow samples revealed 24 elements, of which Na , Mg , Al , Si , K , Ca , Ti and Fe were found to be the major components. Comparing the determined values of rime and snow sample elements, rime samples were several times to several dozen times higher than snow samples for almost all the elements. For determined values of ionic species, rime samples were several times to several dozen times higher than snow samples. With the aid of SEM-EDX analysis, many small silicon-rich spherical particles were observed in the rime samples. Small silicon-rich spherical particles were also found in the snow samples. The existent forms of chemical components in rime will be an important factor when we consider the origin of air pollutants transported over long distances in the Northeast Asian regions.

Climate variability along latitudinal and longitudinal transects in East Antarctica

AbstractIn the framework of the International Trans-Antarctic Scientific Expedition (ITASE) programme, France and Italy carried out a traverse along one west–east and two north–south transects in East Antarctica from November 2001 to January 2002. Eighteen shallow snow–firn cores were drilled, and surface snow samples were collected every 5km along the traverse. Firn temperatures were measured in boreholes down to 30 m. The cores were analyzed for β radioactivity to obtain snow accumulation-rate data. The surface snow samples were analyzed for δ18O to correlate isotopic values with borehole temperatures. Multiple regression analysis shows a global near-dry-adiabatic lapse rate and a latitudinal lapse rate of 1.05˚C(˚ lat. S)–1, in the Dome C drainage area. Analysis of firn temperatures reveals a super-adiabatic lapse rate along the ice divide between Talos Dome and the Southern Ocean coast, and in some sectors along the ice divide between the Astrolabe Basin and D59. Snow accumulation rates and firn temperatures show warmer temperatures and higher accumulation values close to the ice divides extending from Talos Dome and Dome C to the Southern Ocean. The spatial pattern of data is linked with a katabatic-wind-source basin and moisture-source region.

Direct determination of mercury at the sub-picogram per gram level in polar snow and ice by ICP-SFMS

An analytical method for the direct determination of mercury (Hg) in polar snow and ice cores and surface snow based on inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SFMS) has been developed. Various Hg isotopes, such as 199Hg, 200Hg, 201Hg and 202Hg, appear to be free of polyatomic interferences in such matrices and allow the measurements to be made in low resolution mode, leading to high sensitivity. Ultra-low concentration Hg standards (from 1.5 to 20 pg g−1) were used for the calibration of the Thermo Finnigan MAT Element2, and a detection limit as low as 0.18 pg g−1 was achieved using 202Hg. Ultra-clean procedures used from field sampling to final laboratory analysis show no significant blank contributions and appear suitable for the reliable determination of Hg at ultra-low concentrations. Precision of the Hg measurements was estimated to be 15% in terms of relative standard deviation on five replicates and accuracy was checked with an analytical reference material (102% recovery). Hg concentrations in surface snow samples from the Northern Hemisphere collected in the Canadian Arctic and in Svalbard (Norway) show high variability (1.2–32.0 pg g−1). In Antarctica, Hg was determined in different ice core sections from Dome C, spanning the last 18000 years BP (range from 0.7 to 3.2 pg g−1), and in snow samples from Coats Land covering the last 150 years (range from 0.2 to 16.1 pg g−1).

Pollen Dispersal and Deposition on the Ice Cap of Volćan Parinacota, Southwestern Bolivia

Pollen, a regular component of tropical ice cores, has been shown to have great potential as a sensitive paleoenvironmental proxy in ice-core research. However, questions remain as to the modern dispersal and depositional patterns of pollen on high-alpine tropical ice caps. This information is vital to the accurate interpretation of the environmental reconstructions being derived from fossil pollen. In this study, 11 surface snow samples were collected around the caldera rim at the summit of Mt. Parinacota along the Bolivian-Chilean border. Results show that pollen concentration and assemblage are uniform in samples taken from the southwestern quadrant and the entire eastern half of the mountain. However, the pollen signatures are significantly different in the northwestern quadrant, probably due to long-distance transport of xerophytic Compositae shrub pollen from the prevailing winds. The sections of the mountain not directly impacted by the prevailing northwesterlies reflect a more locally influenced pollen assemblage dominated by grasses. These results are consistent with previous findings from the Quelccaya Ice Cap and confirm the importance of the prevailing winds in the dispersal and deposition of pollen on these high-alpine tropical ice caps.

Seasonal variations of accumulation and the isotope record in ice cores: a study with surface snow samples and firn cores from Neumayer station, Antarctica

AbstractAt the German wintering base Neumayer, an intensive glacio-meteorological programme has been carried out during the last two decades. A complete meteorological dataset and data from surface snow samples, snow pits, firn cores and weekly accumulation measurements from a stake array are available. We first investigated the attenuation of the seasonal δ18O signal due to water-vapour diffusion in the snowpack. A comparison of surface snow samples and firn cores of different ages shows that only one-third of the seasonal δ18O signal of the surface snow samples remains in the cores after the first year. No further significant change in the amplitude of the seasonal δ18O signal is found later. Changes in the seasonal distribution of accumulation can lead to a bias in ice-core properties. This is studied on a short time-scale, using high-time-resolution data of accumulation, stable-isotope ratios and air temperature. Mean annual δ18O values from firn cores are not well correlated to annual mean air temperatures. However, the correlation is improved considerably by calculating an annual mean air temperature using monthly mean temperatures weighted by monthly accumulation. At Neumayer, it is mainly the cyclonic activity in late winter/early spring that determines whether and how the core data are biased.

Pollen Dispersal and Deposition on the Quelccaya Ice Cap, Peru

The relatively young science of tropical ice-core palynology has proven effective in the study of paleoenvironments by its ability to produce long-term and highresolution paleoclimatic data. However, no studies thus far have investigated the basic dispersal and depositional processes of pollen on these tropical ice caps. In this study, 15 surface snow samples were taken along an east-west transect on the Quelccaya Ice Cap in southern Peru. Results show that pollen assemblages remain fairly uniform across the ice surface, suggesting a uniform mixing of the air mass and its pollen contents over the ice cap. The pollen concentrations, ranging between 17,250 and 55,400 grains/liter, are the highest ever found on a tropical or nontropical ice cap. Concentrations were highest toward the western edge of the ice cap, suggesting that the prevailing winds may have a greater influence on pollen dispersal than other diurnal winds. These results are the first step in understanding the fundamental questions of modern pollen-rain and depositional processes on a tropical ice cap, which are essential for reliable and accurate interpretation of ice-core pollen data.

Use of snow-covered ranges to estimate explosives residues from high-order detonations of army munitions

Estimation of the amounts of residues resulting from high-order detonation of munitions is complicated by the presence of residues from previous detonations and the inability to easily obtain adequately-sized samples to overcome spatial heterogeneity in residue deposition. This study was conducted to assess the use of snow-covered ranges to provide these types of estimates. Specifically, snow-covered ranges were used to estimate the amount of explosives residues that resulted from detonation of individual mortar rounds and a small antipersonnel land mine. At Fort Drum, NY, 60 mm mortars were fired and at Camp Ethan Allen, VT, 81 mm mortars and a Yugolavian PMA2 land mine were detonated by EOD (explosives ordnance disposal) personnel after attaching C4 (RDX) and/or a blasting cap. The locations where residues were deposited were identified by the presence of soot from the detonation of TNT on the surface of the otherwise clean snow. Large surface snow samples were collected with a snow shovel and the melted snow was extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD) and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). For both types of mortars the main charge was composition B (60% RDX and 39% TNT); for the land mine, the main charge was TNT with an RDX booster. The major residues produced for the mortars were RDX and nitroglycerine (NG), with lesser amounts of HMX, and TNT. Surface concentrations ranged from as high as 4430 μg/m 2 for RDX to <0.05 μg/m 2 for TNT, both at Camp Ethan Allen. For the land mine, the major residues were TNT and RDX with surface concentrations of 20.8 and 1.8 μg/m 2, respectively.

Chemical composition of freshsnow samples from the southern slope of Mt. Everest region (Khumbu-Himal region, Nepal)

In 1998 fresh surface snow samples were collected, no more than 2 days after the snowfall, along the Khumbu valley, and its lateral valleys (Kongmala and Changri Nup), at the end of the summer monsoon period. Samples from the Island Peak and Pumori slopes were also collected by climbers during pre- and post-monsoon season at altitudes ranging from 5300 to 6100 m a.s.l. Conductivity, pH and major inorganic ions were measured in samples and relative field blanks. Chemical results were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) in order to distinguish different sources of ions and study spatial and temporal distribution of ion concentrations. Two main factors, accounting for more than 80% of the total variance, were found. The two factors were correlated to two different sources, one representing local transport and background contribution, and the other related to monsoon circulation. Concentrations of the main ions were compared to those measured in other remote areas, with particular regard to elevated areas in Central Asia.

7Be and 10Be concentrations in recent firn and ice at Law Dome, Antarctica

Over the past three years, the Australian National Tandem for Applied Research (ANTARES) AMS facility at ANSTO has been expanding its sample preparation and measurement capability, particularly for 10Be, 26Al and 36Cl. During this time, ANSTO has continued its collaboration with the AAD and CSIRO Atmospheric Research on the measurement of cosmogenic isotopes from Law Dome, Antarctica. This research program has been supported by the construction of a dedicated geochemistry laboratory for the processing of ice and rock samples for the preparation of AMS targets. Here we present our first results for 10Be concentrations measured in ice cores from three sites at Law Dome and describe the sample processing protocol and aspects of the AMS measurement procedure. These sites are characterised by an eightfold difference in accumulation rate with a common precipitation source. In combination with an established ice chronology, this has enabled some preliminary findings concerning the relationship between the snow accumulation rate and the measured 10Be concentration for Law Dome during recent times. Additionally, we present 7Be and 10Be/ 7Be measurements made for a few surface snow samples from Law Dome and Australia.

Chemical characteristics of four kinds of water in the rongbuk glacier basin, Mount Qomolangma

The chemistry of water samples collected in May of 1997 from snow, lakes, rivers, and spring on the north side of Mt. Qomolangma is reported. The pH value is between 7.35–8.52, the order of which is: lake water>river water>snow. All the samples are alkalinity. The pH values of the surface snow samples are relatively higher than the other China’s glacial regions. The conductivity of the samples is low, varying between 34.8 - 194 µs/cm. The conductivity values and total concentrations of the samples on the same glacier usually increase with decreasing altitude, but ones of the surface snow samples are converse for topographical causes. The anions are determined, the SO 4 2− concentration is the highest in river and lake samples; in the surface snow samples, the Cl− concentration is the highest. Among the cations of all the samples, the Ca2+ concentration is the highest. The relationships between SO 4 2- , Mg2+, F−, Ca2+, conductivity and the total concentrations show the increasing trend. On the other side, the conductivity, F−, Ca2+, the total concentration, SO 4 2− and Mg2+ of the river water samples all increase with decreasing altitude.

Geographical variations of major and trace elements in East Antarctica

Surface snow samples have been analyzed for a total of 37 elements including Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Fe, Ba, Cd, Fe, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ga, Li, Mn, Pb, Se, Sr, V, Zn, As, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu and Th by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Rare earth elements in surface snow were evaluated after preconcentration of the samples in a class 1000 clean room. These samples were collected between 1991–1993 during the oversnow traverses along a 2200 km route in East Queen Maud Land, Antarctica. They include one at Dome Fuji Station (77°32′S, 24°08′E; 3810 m a.s.l.) built on the top of the second highest dome. In coastal area, fallout flux for Na, Mg, Sr and Cu or more weakly for Ca and Ba shows an apparent decrease according to the distance from the coast. On the other hand, fallout flux for Co, Ni and Cd shows an increase at 2500–3000 m or >3500 m above sea level. For Mn, Se, Zn and As, it shows a combined pattern of these two types. For Al, V and Pb, a constant profile with an intermittent peaks along this route was indicated. These geographical distributions of fallout flux for each element could reflect polar stratospheric precipitation or long-range tropospheric transport from the southern hemisphere. In the present study, concentrations of rare earth elements in Antarctic surface snow at sub-ppt level are first reported. A clear rare earth pattern is noticed in the Antarctic samples and rare earth ratios are also valuable to estimate anthropogenic emissions to the Antarctica.

The Weddell Sea region: an important precipitation channel to the interior of the Antarctic ice sheet as revealed by glaciochemical investigation of surface snow along the longest trans-Antarctic route

AbstractGlaciochemical analysis of surface snow samples, collected along a profile crossing the Antarctic ice sheet from the Larsen Ice Shelf, Antarctic Peninsula, via the Antarctic Plateau through South Pole, Vostok and Komsomolskaya to Mirny station (at the east margin of East Antarctica), shows that the Weddell Sea region is an important channel for air masses to the high plateau of the Antarctic ice sheet (&gt;2000 m a.s.l.). This opinion is supported by the following. (1) The fluxes of sea-salt ions such as Na+, Mg2 + and CF display a decreasing trend from the west to the east of interior Antarctica. In |eneral, as sea-salt aerosols are injected into the atmosphere over the Antarctic ice sheet from the Weddell Sea, large aerosols tend to decrease. For the inland plateau, few large particles of sea-salt aerosol reach the area, and the sea-salt concentration levels are low (2) The high altitude of the East Antarctic plateau, as well as the polar cold high-pressure system, obstruct the intrusive air masses mainly from the South Indian Ocean sector. (3) For the coastal regions of the East Antarctic ice sheet, the elevation rises to 2000 m over a distance from several to several tens of km. High concentrations of sea salt exist in snow in East Antarctica but are limited to a narrow coastal zone. (4) Fluxes of calcium and non-sea-salt sulfate in snow from the interior plateau do not display an eastward-decreasing trend. Since calcium is mainly derived from crustal sources, and nssSO42- is a secondary aerosol, this again confirms that the eastward-declining tendency of sea-salt ions indicates the transfer direction of precipitation vapor.