Geographical variations of major and trace elements in East Antarctica

Surface snow samples have been analyzed for a total of 37 elements includin g Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Fe, Pa, 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 b y inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Rare earth element s in surface snow were evaluated after preconcentration of the samples in a class 1000 clean room. These samples were collected between 1991-1993 duri ng the oversnow traverses along a 2200 km route in East Queen Maud Land, An tarctica. They include one at Dome Fuji Station (77 degrees 32'S, 24 degree s 08'E; 3810 m a.s.l.) built on the top of the second highest dome. In coas tal area, fallout flux for Na, Mg, Sr and Cu or more weakly for Ca and Ba s hows 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 pa ttern of these two types. For Al, V and Pb, a constant profile with an inte rmittent peaks along this route was indicated. These geographical distribut ions of fallout flux for each element could reflect polar stratospheric pre cipitation or long-range tropospheric transport from the southern hemispher e. In the present study, concentrations of rare earth elements in Antarctic surface snow at sub-ppt level are first reported. A clear rare earth patte rn is noticed in the Antarctic samples and rare earth ratios are also valua ble to estimate anthropogenic emissions to the Antarctica. (C) 1999 Elsevie r Science Ltd. All rights reserved.