Earth’s Cryosphere, 2021, Vol. XXV, No. 6, p. 13-22.

SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SNOW COVER WITHIN AND OUTSIDE TOMSK-SEVERSK INDUSTRIAL AGGLOMERATION

A.V. Zakharchenko¹, A.A. Tigeev¹, O.A. Pasko², L.G. Kolesnichenko³, D.V. Moskovchenko^1,4

¹ Institute of the Problems of Northern Development, Tyumen Scientific Centre SB RAS,
Malygina str. 86, Tyumen, 625026, Russia; avzakh@gmail.com, ttrruubbaa@mail.ru
² Agrophysical Research Institute, Grazhdansky ave. 14, St. Petersburg, 195220, Russia; pasko@agrophys.ru
³ Tomsk State University, Lenina str. 36, Tomsk, 634050, Russia; klg77777@mail.ru
⁴ Tyumen State University, Semakova str. 10, Tyumen, 625003, Russia; moskovchenko1965@gmail.com

The ability of snowpack to accumulate airborne substances allows analyzing spatiotemporal geochemical patterns and detecting polluted areas. Spatial features of geochemical regional distribution of dust deposited in the snow cover in areas remote from industrial centers are determined. The snowpack of Tomsk, Shegarka and Kozhevnikovo districts in the Tomsk Oblast was chosen to be the object of this research. The observations were carried out in the period from 1995 to 2000. The measurements of snow meltwater filtrate included: pH, concentrations of nitrate and ammonia nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, chlorine, while the solid residue was analyzed for heavy metal contents (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Co, Mn, Cr, Ni) using atomic absorption spectrophotometry method. The average thickness of snowpack is evenly distributed within the study area and varies from year to year. Contents of dust, ammonia (+4NH), phosphorus (P2O5), Mg in snow on the forest floor significantly differ (an upward bias) from arable land areas. Ions 3NO,− +4NH, alkaline and alkaline-earth elements show an increasing trend (relative to the background values) near the industrial zone. The levels of siderophilic and lithophilic elements, copper and zinc tend to be enhanced in proximity to the industrial zone of the Tomsk city agglomeration. Lead shows a mosaic distribution throughout the study area. In individual localities (Batkat village, Komarovo swamps), dust and heavy metals contents in snowpack were found to be higher relative to the background values.

Solid aerosols, snow, heavy metals, dust, trace elements.