Air Pollution and Self-Purification by Precipitation in the Russian Arctic

Abstract

Unusual precipitation fell out in the Russian Arctic. There were globally background concentrations of the main components (distilled water) with a ion sum of 1.1–3.6 mg/L, increased amount of chlorides (despite continuous ice cover), and high concentration of trace elements (the sum of heavy metals was 140 μg/L, i.e., 13% of the minimum ion sum, whereas the total mineral content was the lowest). Increased concentration of heavy metals in the Central Arctic was also observed at a higher ion sum (77 mg/L). The highest acidity was estimated at pH 4.7.