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Evaluation of the changes in regional wintertime deposition in Finland during 1976–1993

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Abstract

Snowpack quality has been systematically monitored in Finland since winter 1975/1976 by the Finnish Environment Agency. Snow samples have been taken at the 53 groundwater observation stations in nearly natural state areas, where the impacts of local emission sources have been negligible. Thus the concentrations of impurities in snow can be considered as background levels. Samples were analyzed for conductivity, pH, major ions and trace metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn and Hg).

The regional variation of the chemical composition of major ions in the snowpack was outlined by cluster analysis. Sampling sites were divided into six clusters by average linkage clustering method. The largest cluster — considered as the ‘mean cluster’ — was located in central and northern Finland. The lowest levels of the total amount of dissolved impurities occurred in the cluster formed by the most northern observation site exclusively. Highest rates of the acidifying components, sulphate (SO4), nitrate (NO3), ammonium (NH4) and hydrogen ions (H+), were encountered in southern Finland. Sampling locations of southern Finland were divided into three clusters. The acidity of snow varies among these clusters that in addition of deposition of SO4 and NO3 is considerably controlled by alkaline deposition.

The results of chemical analyses of snow were converted to mean monthly depositions using the water equivalent of snow and the time of deposition. Deposition of SO4 during 1985–1993 was 32% lower compared with the period 1976–1984, which presumably results from 70% reduction of sulphur emissions in Finland since the beginning of the 1980s. The deposition level of NO3-N seemed to stay relatively stable during the whole 18 year period while the deposition of NH4-N has decreased 18%.

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Soveri, J., Peltonen, K. Evaluation of the changes in regional wintertime deposition in Finland during 1976–1993. Water Air Soil Pollut 85, 2191–2197 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01186159

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