Source and origin of atmospheric trace elements entrapped in winter snow of the Italian Eastern Alps

P. Gabrielli (1) , G. Cozzi (2) , S. Torcini (3) , P. Cescon (1, 2) , C. Barbante (1, 2)

1 Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes-CNR
2 Department of Environmental Sciences
3 ENEA - Italian National agency for new technologies, Energy and sustainable economic development [Frascati]

Trace elements concentrations were determined in shallow snow samples from 21 sites in the Italian Eastern Alps in order to identify the sources of the contaminants present in the tropospheric winter boundary layer. The collection of superficial snow layers was carried out weekly at altitudes between 1000 and 3000 m next to meteorological stations, far away from villages, roads and ski slopes. Ultra clean procedures were adopted in order to avoid contamination of the snow during the different experimental phases. Trace elements (Ag, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mo, Mn, Pb, Sb, Ti, U, V and Zn) were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Sector Field Mass Spectrometer (ICP-SFMS). Ancillary parameters such as major ions (SO₄^2?, NO₃^?, Ca^2+;, Mg²⁺, K

Domaines: Océan, Atmosphère

P. Gabrielli, G. Cozzi, S. Torcini, P. Cescon, C. Barbante. Source and origin of atmospheric trace elements entrapped in winter snow of the Italian Eastern Alps. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions, 2006, 6 (5), pp.8781-8815. ⟨hal-00302116⟩