Variations in lead isotopes in Antarctic snow from northern Victoria Land during 2012–2015

• Published in: Environmental Research Communications
• Main Authors: Han, Changhee, Kim, Songyi, Lee, Ah-Hyung, Han, Yeongcheol, Lee, Seungmi, Chang, Chaewon, Hong, Sungmin, Jung, Hyejin, Hong, Sang-Bum, Lee, Jeonghoon, Hur, Soon Do
• Other Authors: Korea Polar Research Institute, National Research Foundation of Korea
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: IOP Publishing 2022
• Subjects: Antarctic; Hercules; Hercules Névé; Victoria Land; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ac6cd1; https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2515-7620/ac6cd1; https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2515-7620/ac6cd1/pdf

Abstract To evaluate recent changes in anthropogenic Pb pollution and its sources and origins in Antarctica, Pb and Ba concentrations and Pb isotopic compositions were determined in a continuous series of 40 snow samples from a 2-m deep snow pit, covering 4 full years from 2011/12 summer to 2015/16 summer, at the Hercules Névé plateau in Victoria Land, Antarctica. The results show that more than 90% of the atmospheric Pb deposited in Victoria Land was of noncrustal origin. This result implies the persistence of a significant human impact on the atmospheric cycle of Pb in the most remote places on Earth, despite a substantial reduction in anthropogenic Pb emissions in the Southern Hemisphere during recent years. The Pb isotopic fingerprints indicate that South America, particularly Brazil and Chile, has become a major source of anthropogenic Pb reaching Victoria Land. Our data highlight the need for both national and international measures to further reduce Pb emissions.