Snowpack quality as an indicator of air pollution in Finnish Lapland and the Kola Peninsula, NW Russia

Bulk snow samples were collected from the snowpack in open areas along two sampling lines running to the west from the Cu-Ni smelters at Nikel and Monchegorsk, NW Russia, during 1991-1993. The aim of the study was to estimate the area affected by sulphur and heavy metal deposition from the smelters. Snowpack quality was used as an indicator of deposition during winter time. The total sulphur, copper and nickel concentrations in the snowpack decreased significantly (p < 0.001) with increasing distance from the smelters along the sampling line running directly to the west from Monchegorsk. The deposition pattern was similar each winter during 1991-1993. The pH values did not correlate with the corresponding sulphur concentrations, and mere was no decreasing pH gradient in the snowpack on moving towards Monchegorsk. The effects of sulphur emissions from Monchegorsk on snowpack chemistry were not detectable on the Finnish side of the border. The 3-year mean of the total sulphur concentration was 0.27 mg/kg, and of the pH values 4.92, along the sampling line running to the west of Monchegorsk. The total sulphur concentrations near me smelters (<20 km) varied between 0.37 and 0.95 mg/kg. The effect of the Cu-Ni smelters at Nikel on snowpack quality was not detectable in northern Finnish Lapland. The 3-year mean for total sulphur was 0.20 mg/kg and for pH 4.96 along the sampling line running to the west of Nikel.