Abstract
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 in Antarctic snow were analyzed by ICP-MS in a class 1000 clean room. Chromatographic analysis for Cl-, SO42- and NO3- were also conducted. Antarctic snow samples were collected at Asuka Station(71°32'S, 24°08'E, 930 m a.s.l. )over a period from July to December 1991. Concentration of the most of the elements in Antarctic snow is 1-3 orders of magnitude smaller than that of Arctic snow collected in 1992. Pronounced peak concentration in most of the elements together with non sea salt sulfate was observed in late September to early October. Enrichment factor analysis suggest for Na, Mg, Ca, K and Sr of marine origine and Al, Fe, Mn, Rb, Cr, Ni, Ga, V and all the rare earth elements of crustal origine. Volcanic eruption of Mt.Pinatubo(June, 1991)and / or Mt. Hudson(August, 1991)could be the reason for the precipitations of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn and Se together with acidic components in the drifting snow. Surface snow samples along a 2200 km route including one at Dome Fuji(77°32'S, 24°08'E; 3810 m a.s.l. )have been collected in 1991- 1993. Spacial distribution of trace elements of surface snow in Antarctica may reflect polar stratospheric precipitation or long range transport from the southern hemisphere. Rare earth element(REE)pattern in surface snow shows a distinctive pattern in the Antarctic inner most highland area. This study will help researchers to gain further investigations of deep ice cores, which will have provided a wealth of information on global climate change and atmospheric composition.
