Seasonal Evolution of the Chemical Composition of Atmospheric Aerosol in Terra Nova Bay (Antarctica)

Atmospheric aerosol samples were collected at Faraglione Camp, 3 km away from the Italian Mario Zucchelli Station (Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea), from 1 December 2013 to 2 February 2014. A two-step extraction procedure was applied to characterize the soluble and insoluble components of PM 10 -bound meta...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Atmosphere
Main Authors: Flavio Vagnoni, Silvia Illuminati, Anna Annibaldi, Francesco Memmola, Giada Giglione, Anna Maria Falgiani, Federico Girolametti, Matteo Fanelli, Giuseppe Scarponi, Cristina Truzzi
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021
Subjects:
sequential extraction procedure
metals
Antarctic aerosol
seasonal evolution
enrichment factors
Meteorology. Climatology
QC851-999
Antarctic
The Antarctic
Ross Sea
Terra Nova Bay
Mario Zucchelli
Mario Zucchelli Station
Faraglione
Antarc*
Antarctica
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12081030
https://doaj.org/article/0bb2a0d9abce427da11fbe49782110fd
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Summary:Atmospheric aerosol samples were collected at Faraglione Camp, 3 km away from the Italian Mario Zucchelli Station (Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea), from 1 December 2013 to 2 February 2014. A two-step extraction procedure was applied to characterize the soluble and insoluble components of PM 10 -bound metals. Samples were analyzed for Al, Fe, Cd, Cu, and Pb by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) and by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer (GF-AAS). The mean atmospheric concentrations were (reported as means ± SD) Al 24 ± 3 ng m −3 Fe 23 ± 4 ng m −3 Cd 0.92 ± 0.53 pg m −3 Cu 43 ± 9 pg m −3 , and Pb 16 ± 5 pg m −3 . The fractionation pattern was metal-specific, with Al, Fe, and Pb mainly present in the insoluble fractions, Cd in the soluble one, and Cu equally distributed between the two fractions. The summer evolution showed overall constant behavior of both fractions for Al and Fe, while a bell-shaped trend was observed for the three trace metals. Cd and Cu showed a bell-shaped evolution involving both fractions. A seasonal increase in Pb occurred only for the insoluble fraction, while the soluble fraction remained almost constant. Sequential extraction and enrichment factors indicated a crustal origin for Al, Fe, and Pb, and additional (marine or anthropogenic) contributions for Cd and Cu. Back trajectory analysis showed a strong contribution of air masses derived from the Antarctic plateau. A potential low contribution from anthropized areas cannot be excluded. Further studies are necessary to better characterize the chemical composition of the aerosol, to discriminate between natural and anthropogenic sources, and to evaluate a quantitative source apportionment.

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