MAJOR-ELEMENT CHEMISTRY IN ALPINE SNOW ALONG A NORTH-SOUTH TRANSECT IN THE EASTERN ALPS

The regional distribution of ion concentration and ionic load along a meridional transect in the Eastern Alps was investigated in 1993 and 1 994 taking samples of the high alpine snow pack at six sites. High con centrations of atmospheric trace substances seemed to be related to hi gh rates of snow accumulation Zugspitze at the northern, and Careser G lacier at the southern margin of the Alps and Hintereisferner at the m ain divide had higher concentrations of sulfate and nitrate than adjac ent sites. The pattern found in the ion concentrations was accentuated in the deposition rates with maximum ionic loads up to three times hi gher than the minima at the dry sites. Sulfate concentrations and sulf ate to nitrate ratios were higher in the southern part of the transect . (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.