Study of trace elements in the surface snow for impact monitoring in Vecherny Oasis, East Antarctica

The results of surface snow monitoring in Vecherny Oasis, Thala Hills, East Antarctica, for evaluation of Belarusian Antarctic Station environmental impact are presented. Snow samples from the depth up to 15–20 cm were collected during 4–5th and 7–10th seasonal Belarusian Antarctic expeditions in the period from 2012 to 2018. Chemical-analytical study and determination of Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Na, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Th, Tl, V, U, and Zn content were performed using ISP-MS method. Altogether 85 snow samples were analyzed. High spatial variability of trace elements content in the surface snow and differences between human impacted and non-impacted areas are shown. The elevated average content of trace elements in surface snow within the human impacted areas in comparison with ice sheet has been revealed. Based on the concentration of elements and EFc, the anthropogenic origin of Sb, Se, As, Cd, Zn, Cr, Cu, Mo, V, and Pb in the surface snow were suggested. Contribution of local sources of trace elements is considered to be more important for Vecherny Oasis than their regional or transboundary transfers. The development of guidelines for unified procedure of snow sampling for the goal of local impact monitoring in Antarctica would be useful for data comparison across Antarctic.