Impact of snow deposition on major and trace element concentrations and elementary fluxes in surface waters of the Western Siberian Lowland across a 1700 km latitudinal gradient

Abstract

Abstract. In order to better understand the chemical composition of snow and its impact on surface water hydrochemistry in the poorly studied Western Siberia Lowland (WSL), the surface layer of snow was sampled in February 2014 across a 1700 km latitudinal gradient (ca. 56.5 to 68 • N). We aimed at assessing the latitudinal effect on both dissolved and particulate forms of elements in snow and quantifying the impact of atmospheric input to element storage and export fluxes in inland waters of the WSL. The concentration of dissolved+colloidal (< 0.45 µm) Fe, Co, Cu, As and La increased by a factor of 2 to 5 north of 63 • N compared to southern regions. The pH and dissolved Ca, Mg, Sr, Mo and U in snow water increased with the rise in concentrations of particulate fraction (PF). Principal component analyses of major and trace element concentrations in both dissolved and particulate fractions revealed two factors not linked to the latitude. A hierarchical cluster analysis yielded several groups of elements that originated from alumino-silicate mineral matrix, carbonate minerals and marine aerosols or belonging to volatile atmospheric heavy metals, labile elements from weatherable minerals and nutrients. The main sources of mineral components in PF are desert and semi-desert regions of central Asia.The snow water concentrations of DIC, Cl, SO 4 , Mg, Ca, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Mo, Cd, Sb, Cs, W, Pb and U exceeded or were comparable with springtime concentrations in thermokarst lakes of the permafrost-affected WSL zone. The springtime river fluxes of DIC, Cl, SO 4 , Na, Mg, Ca, Rb, Cs, metals (Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb), metalloids (As, Sb), Mo and U in the discontinuous to continuous permafrost zone (64-68 • N) can be explained solely by melting of accumulated snow. The impact of snow deposition on riverine fluxes of elements strongly increased northward, in discontinuous and continuous permafrost zones of frozen peat bogs. This was consistent with the decrease in the impact of rock lithology on river chemical composition in the permafrost zone of the WSL, relative to the permafrost-free regions. Therefore, the present study demonstrates significant and previously underestimated atmospheric input of many major and trace elements to their riverine fluxes during spring floods. A broader impact of this result is that current estimations of river water fluxes response to climate warming in high latitudes may be unwarranted without detailed analysis of winter precipitation.

Microtopography Controls of Carbon and Related Elements Distribution in the West Siberian Frozen Bogs

“…Therefore, the maximum dust stocks are confined to the upper parts of the peat deposits, which is confirmed by the distribution of chemical elements in the peat columns [72]. A significant contribution of atmospheric influences on the formation of springtime river fluxes of many metals has been shown at the study of snow [73]. In the snow, alumino-silicate minerals were found associated with desert and semi-desert regions of Central Asia.…”

Using an Urban Snow Cover Composition-Based Cluster Analysis to Zone Krasnoyarsk Town (Russia) by Pollution Level

“…Water-soluble Al ions accumulated to as high as 4.6 mg/m 2 during the winter season, nearly twice the background concentration found for Bratsk Town, Baikal Region [36]. In West Siberian Plain, the background Al concentration ranges 1.6 to 35.5 mcg/l [39].…”

“…The latter clustering type is detailed in Blas et al [25], where they discuss variable grouping patterns coming from mineral salt impact, impact of secondary emissions and organic pollutants, dissolve matter effects, and human-caused oxidative influences. Shevchenko [39] used the same approach to analyzing snow cover chemical composition and its influence on surface water hydrochemistry in little-studied West Siberian Lowland. He identified groups of elements coming from aluminosilicate mineral matrix, carbonate minerals, and marine aerosols, or belonging to volatile atmospheric heavy metals and liable elements formed by the weathering of minerals.…”

Controls on spatial and temporal variability in streamflow and hydrochemistry in a glacierized catchment

“…Of course, further nivo-meteorological indicators such as the extent of snow cover (Singh et al, 2005), vapor pressure, net radiation and wind (Zuzel and Cox, 1975), or turbulent heat fluxes and longwave radiation (Sicart et al, 2006) may exist but were not included in the present study due to the lack of observations. Moreover, with respect to spatial representativeness, T max and G max represent point-scale data from the only highelevation AWS of this catchment, providing the nivometeorological indicators needed for this study.…”