TRACE SUBSTANCES IN SNOW AND FIRN FROM THE VICINITY OF 2 SMALL RESEARCH STATIONS IN ANTARCTICA

Citation
M. Stenberg et al., TRACE SUBSTANCES IN SNOW AND FIRN FROM THE VICINITY OF 2 SMALL RESEARCH STATIONS IN ANTARCTICA, Ambio, 27(6), 1998, pp. 451-455
Citations number
32
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Environmental Sciences","Engineering, Environmental
Journal title
AmbioACNP
ISSN journal
0044-7447
Volume
27
Issue
6
Year of publication
1998
Pages
451 - 455
Database
ISI
SICI code
0044-7447(1998)27:6<451:TSISAF>2.0.ZU;2-5
Abstract
A sampling program was initiated by the Swedish Polar Research Secreta riat with the purpose of exploring the possibility of using trace anal yses of snow samples to identify anthropogenic influences in the envir onments of two small research stations in Antarctica. During the field season 1991/92, surface snow samples and a short firn core were colle cted in the vicinity of the Swedish station Wasa and the Finnish stati on Aboa. Surface snow was sampled again in 1993/94. Major ions (Na+, M g2+, Ca2+, Cl-, NO3- and SO42-) were analyzed and the total amount of light-absorbing material was determined. Increased concentrations of b oth light-absorbing material and of all the ions were observed in the area near the stations after the two periods of occupation. There are several possible explanations for the increase. One source for the lig ht-absorbing material is the burning of fossil fuels and waste. The in crease of ion concentrations is also consistent with the breakdown and dispersion of salt encrustations formed during the weathering of loca l rocks. During storms and helicopter activities, salt and mineral fra gments might be transported from snowfree areas to the sampling site c losest downwind from the stations. Thus, the increased concentrations of trace substances could be due to a combination of anthropogenic and natural input. No significant increase in concentrations of trace sub stances could be observed 1.5 km upwind or 3 km downwind of the statio ns. This study clearly shows that the influence from activities at the research stations was very local.