Material and elemental composition of surface aerosols on the north-western coast of the Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea

Abstract

Continuous sampling of aerosols is carried out on the north-western (NW) coast of the Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea. Aerosol matter from 30 filters collected in summer and autumn, 2013, and spring, 2014, was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The elemental composition of aerosol matter was determined by the inductively-coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS). The major portion of aerosol particles collected in summer is of biogenic origin. Heavy metal concentrations in aerosols are at the Arctic background level. The distribution of trace element concentrations is characterized by simultaneous peaks of different elements. The backward trajectory analysis shows an increase in Ni and Cu concentrations corresponding to the arrival of air masses from the western part of the Kola Peninsula. That suggests the influence of smelters.