SNOW COMPOSITION IN 8 CATCHMENTS IN THE CENTRAL BARENTS EURO-ARCTIC REGION

Snowpack samples representing atmospheric deposition during winter 199 3-1994 were taken in eight catchments at different distances to the in dustry on the Kola Peninsula, NW Russia, and in contiguous areas of No rway and Finland. Snow was collected at 7-13 stations per catchment an d delivered frozen to the laboratory. There, the samples were melted a nd filtered(< 0.45 mu m) on-line. Meltwater (MW) and filter residue (F R) fractions were analysed separately using ICP-MS and ICP-AES techniq ues. The ratios of FR to FR + MW concentrations show very characterist ic patterns for the different industrial sources in the area. Nickel s melting at Monchegorsk results for example in predominantly water solu ble deposition of Cu and S, while close to the ore roasting plant at Z apoljarniy these elements are mainly deposited in particulate form. Fo r many elements more than 60% of the total deposition is particular in all catchments. The FR/(FR + MW) ratio of snow appears to be a useful tool to fingerprint pollution sources. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.