Potential Source Contribution Function Analysis of High Latitude Dust Sources over the Arctic: Preliminary Results and Prospects

Abstract

The results of a preliminary investigation of the dust sources in the Arctic based on their geochemical properties by potential source contribution function (PSCF) analysis are presented in this paper. For this purpose, we considered one year of aerosol geochemical data from Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, and a short list of chemical elements (i.e., Al, Fe, Mn, Ti, Cr, V, Ni, Cu, and Zn) variably related to the dust fraction. Based on PSCF analysis: (i) four different dust source areas (i.e., Eurasia, Greenland, Arctic-Alaska, and Iceland) were characterized by distinguishing geochemical ranges and seasonal occurrence; and (ii) a series of typical dust days from the distinct source areas were identified based on the corresponding back trajectory patterns. Icelandic dust samples revealed peculiar but very variable characteristics in relation to their geographical source regions marked by air mass back trajectories. The comparison between pure and mixed Icelandic dust samples (i.e., aerosols containing Icelandic dust along with natural and/or anthropogenic components) revealed the occurrence of different mixing situations. Comparison with Icelandic soils proved the existence of dilution effects related to the emission and the transport processes.