Chemical composition of aerosol in the atmospheric surface layer of the East Antarctica coastal zone
Authors: Golobokova L. P. , Polkin V. V. , Onischuk N. A. , Khuriganova O. I. , Tikhomirov A. B. , Terpugova S. A. , Polkin V. V. , Turchinovich U. S. , Radionov V. F. 
Published: March 2019

Chemical composition of aerosol in the ground layer of the coastal zone in East Antarctica is analyzed in the article. The aerosol samples were taken in 2006–2015 during seasonal works of the Russian Antarctic Expeditions (RAE), namely, these were 52nd–53rd, 55th, and 58th–60th expeditions. Samples were taken in the 200‑km band of the sea-shore zone along routes of the research vessels (REV) «Akademik Fedorov» and «Akademik Treshnikov» as well as on territories of the Russian stations Molodezhnaya and Mirny. Although the results obtained did show the wide range of the aerosol concentrations and a certain variability of their chemical composition, some common features of the variability were revealed. Thus, during the period from 2006 to 2014 a decrease of average values of the sums were noted. Spatially, a tendency of decreasing of the ion concentrations was found in the direction from the station Novolazarevskaya to the Molodezhnaya one, but the concentrations increased from the Molodezhnaya to the station Mirny. The sum of ions of the aerosol in the above mentioned coastal zone was, on the average, equal to 2.44 μg/m3, and it was larger than that on the territory of the Antarctic stations Molodezhnaya (0,29 μg/m3) and Mirny (0,50 ág / m3). The main part to the sum of the aerosol ions on the Antarctic stations was contributed by Na+, Ca2+, Cl−, SO4 2−. The main ions in aerosol composition in the coastal zone are ions Na+ and Cl−. The dominant contribution of the sea salt and SO4 2− can be traced in not only the composition of atmospheric aerosols, but also in the chemical composition of the fresh snow in the coastal areas of East Antarctica: at the Indian station Maitri, on the Larsemann Hills, and in a boring located in 55.3 km from the station Progress (K = 1.4÷6.1). It was noted that values of the coefficient of enrichment K of these ions decreases as someone moves from a shore to inland. Estimation of contributions of the continental and maritime factors to formation of the aerosol chemical composition revealed higher enrichment ratios for K+, Ca2+, SO4 2− (K = 3.6÷13.0). This reflects not only influence of the natural sources, but the intensity of human activities on the Antarctic continent as well. The elemental composition of solid aerosols was also analyzed. The largest concentrations were determined for Zn, Al and Fe. The ratio of concentration of the elements in both the soluble and insoluble phases of the aerosol showed that 84.1% of the total amount of the elements was contained in a water-insoluble state. Fractional relation between the element concentrations changed in different phases from 16 to 98%. High enrichment of the aerosol particles by Zn, Cu, Cr, Ba, Pb, Ni,Se, As, Cd (the enrichment factors = 27÷26 445) had been revealed. The content of dominant chemical components (Na+, Cl−, Zn, Fe), factors and coefficients of the element enrichment in the aerosols as well as in fresh snow of the coastal zone of East Antarctica are indicative of the identity of sources where their composition is formed.