Geochemistry of airborne particles from the lower troposphere of Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica

Abstract

Major and trace constituents (soluble + insoluble) of wind-blow particles collected at Terra Nova Bay were studied and the data compared with lacustrine and marine sediments from the same area and the Ross Sea. Compared to the geochemical composition of the other local sediments, the aerosol was found to be slightly enriched in femic minerals and depleted in Si. The Transantarctic Mountains (granitoids and metamorphic rocks) are proposed as the main source of the large (D > μm) insoluble particles, with a possible contribution from nearby volcanoes. The soluble fraction accounts for more than 2/3 of the total mass loading and is mainly composed of marine salts. Some traces of contamination due to emissions from human activities were found in the aerosol, with mean Pb enrichment factor (EF_crust) value of 181. Crustal Pb contribution accounts for less than 10%, marine Pb less than 0.01% and 90% of Pb is unaccounted.