Известия Томского политехнического университета: Инжиниринг георесурсов (May 2021)

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SNOW COVER IN TOBOLSK

  • Dmitriy V. Moskovchenko,
  • Roman Yu. Pozhitkov,
  • Andrey V. Soromotin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2021/5/3195
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 332, no. 5
pp. 156 – 169

Abstract

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The relevance of this study is associated with the increasing technogenic pollution of highly industrialized urban areas. The aim of the research is to determine chemical element contents in solid precipitation and identify sources of pollutants. Materials: background ecosystems and technogenic urboecosytems in different functional zones of the city of Tobolsk. Methods: ecological-geochemical analyses of snow cover, determination of physicochemical characteristics of snow (pH, electrical conductivity and salinity), contents of dust-aerosol particles in meltwaters and the chemical composition of solid-phase components using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and atomic emission spectrometry, calculations of parameters characterizing the ecological situation (concentration coefficient Kc, total contamination Zc and emission of elements Zd). Results. The studied meltwaters were characterized by increased alkalinity, salinity and electrical conductivity, which is typical for urboecosystems. The mean daily dust deposition rate of 15,2 mg/m2 in Tobolsk was 4,7 times higher than that in background ecosystems, but lower than those in large industrial cities. Transport is the main source of snow contamination in Tobolsk. Solid precipitation in background ecosystems around Tobolsk was contaminated by chalcophile elements, which originated from submicron particles brought from distant industrial regions. In Tobolsk, the assemblage of contaminants was indicative of influences of soil erosion (Ti and Mn), motorized vehicles (Ni) and abrasion of metal parts (W and Co). Rates of dust-aerosol emissions from the city’s industrial zone, which includes the Tobolsk petrochemical complex and the power plant, were not significantly higher than those from other functional zones of the city. Based on Zc and Zd indices, pollution levels within the city, except the main transport zone, were defined as low.

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