Environmental context. Polar near-surface snow can act as a chemical reactor that alters the composition and chemistry of snow and the overlying air. Although the mechanisms and driving forces of these reactions have long been debated, triboelectrification (production of electrostatic charges by friction) of snow by wind has not yet been considered as a factor. It is proposed that in polar regions, triboelectrification could significantly influence the composition and chemistry of snow.Abstract. Reactions that proceed in polar snow cover may significantly affect the chemistry of the overlying atmosphere, but mechanisms and driving forces of these reactions are still under discussion. The proposed hypothesis attempts to explain some experimental data that cannot be fully understood (e.g. the effect of wind on OH radicals, ozone and persistent organic pollutants levels) by taking into account the influence of electrical phenomena on the snow surface. We assumed that a combination of such factors as low humidity, high wind speed and low temperatures makes the influence of triboelectrification of snow significant for polar areas, where purity and the depth of snow cover prevent fast charge dissipation. The major points of the hypothesis are: (1) when the electric field reaches a value sufficient for the onset of corona discharge, various free radical processes are initiated resulting in changes in the concentrations of ozone, OH radical, nitrate, etc., and the decomposition of pollutant molecules; (2) the high electric field can stimulate transport of ions (such as bromide and nitrate) from the condensed phase to the gas phase; and (3) the ageing of charged snow can increase its electrical potential.
Водоносний горизонт: ал -алювіальні відклади; т -техногенні відклади; кр -кристалічний фундамент. ** ДСанПин 224-171-10 (із змінами, внесеними згідно з Наказом Міністерства охорони здоров'я № 505 (z1043-11) * Aquifer: ал -alluvial deposits; т -technogenic deposits; кр -crystalline basement. ** DSanPin 224-171-10 (with changes according to the Order № 505 (z1043-11) of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine
Processes that occur inside polar snow cover significantly affect polar atmosphere but they are still poorly understood. Most studies consider photochemistry as the dominant mechanism of chemical transformations but recent field data cannot be interpreted only by such photochemical model. A concept is proposed to consider electric phenomena that are well known to physics but their role was never analyzed by snow chemistry specialists. But there is a question on how to differentiate influences of photo effects and electric phenomena. It can be supposed that these factors are not independent. On the contrary, they reinforce each other and act synergistically.
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