Tracing the Distribution of Pb and Trace Elements in the Canadian Arctic from the Atmosphere to the Ocean

• Main Author: De Vera, Joan
• Other Authors: Bergquist, Bridget, Earth Sciences
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: aerosols; Arctic Ocean; Baffin Bay; Canadian Arctic Archipelago; trace elements; trace metal isotopes; 0425; Arctic; Arctic Archipelago; Baffin
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/100936

Trace elements (TEs) play important roles in biogeochemical processes in the Arctic and understanding their cycling along with their isotopes will help us understand better the warming induced changes in the Arctic. This dissertation measured Pb, its isotopes and other TEs in aerosols and seawater samples collected in the Canadian Arctic. Lead and its isotopes are useful particulate source tracers and can be used to understand particulate contaminant inputs and oceanic circulation. Iron is also evaluated because it is an important micronutrient for primary production in the ocean. This study shows that anthropogenic aerosols from Europe and Russia (Eurasia) still dominate during the Arctic Haze period (winter–spring) and particulate pollution levels are relatively stable in the Arctic since the 2000s. This study also traced the anthropogenic Pb from aerosols to the Canadian Arctic seawater using Pb isotope measurements. Historic Eurasian Pb with distinctively low 206Pb/207Pb ( Ph.D.