Comparative chemical characteristics of precipitation in the Hornsund region ( SW Spitsbergen ) in the years 1993-1994 and 1998-1999

• Main Authors: Burzyk, Maciej, Burzyk, Jerzy, Głowacki, Piotr
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2001
• Subjects: Arctic; Spitsbergen; Hornsund; precipitation; atmospheric circulation; Polar Research; Tundra
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12128/14565

Certain chemical parameters such pH, specific electric conductivity (SpC) and concentrations of chloride ions (CI") have been analysed in samples of precipitation collected close to the Polish Polar Station at Hornsund (PPS), SW Spitsbergen. On the basis of seasonal data from years 1993-1994 and 1998-1999, some differences are apparent from the two sets. There is also a marked difference in the seasonal results, especially with respects to pH values; summer precipitation (pH of which can be as low as 3.78) is much more acidic than winter. This was particularly notable in respect of the summer of 1993, and was presumably the result of a relatively unusual atmospheric circulation and a high influx of airborne contaminants from Europe. The wide variation in specific electrical conductivity measurements is considered to be related to variations in wind direction and speed. That precipitation the highest total dissolved salts, of 11.7 mm w.e. (water equivalent), (November 1993), provided 10.7 g of salt per square metre of tundra near the Polish Polar Station. The proximity of the sea, consequently the development of marine aerosols, largely determines the chemical nature of the precipitation. Thus, variations in the chloride ion concentrations during the study periods more or less reflect the variations in the marine aerosol influences on the nature of the polluted precipitation. An analysis of the atmospheric circulation reveals that the most acid precipitation occurs most frequently in the C-8 type of circulation (cyclonic S + SW) and also, less so, for type C-3 (anticyclonic S + SW).