L. P. Golobokova

Assessing the acidification risk in the Lake Baikal region

Data from 3-year-long observations on the chemical composition of precipitation, atmospheric gases, aerosols, soils, and surface waters at three monitoring stations in the Baikal region are presented. The stability of terrestrial ecosystems and surface waters to acidification has been estimated quantitatively. It has been shown that, unlike soils, surface waters of the Baikal watershed are more sensitive to acid deposition. The permissible acidity load for soils and surface waters of the territory varied from 0.30 to 20.00 keq ha−1 yr−1, whereas the maximal contemporary acidity load attains 0.50 keq ha−1 yr−1.

Comparative studies of optical and microphysical characteristics and chemical composition of aerosol over water basin of Caspian Sea in the 29th and 41st cruises of RV Rift

We perform a comparative analysis of the atmospheric aerosol characteristics obtained in the Caspian Sea onboard the RV Rift in November 2008 and in October 2012 in the near-water atmospheric layer and in the entire atmospheric depth. We studied the aerosol optical depth in the wavelength range of 0.3–2.14 μm and the columnar water vapor of the atmosphere; the particle number density and the particle size distribution in the diameter range of 0.3–20 μm; the mass concentration of fine aerosol and the mass concentration of absorbing aerosol, i.e., black carbon; and the chemical ion composition of the soluble part of aerosol and gas admixtures, namely, Cl−, SO42−, NO3−, PO43−, F−, HCO3−, Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, H+, HCl, HNO3, SO2, and NH3.

Spatiotemporal variations in aerosol characteristics along the route of the Indian-Atlantic expedition onboard the research vessel Akademik Nikolaj Strakhov

We discuss the results of studying the physical-chemical composition of the atmospheric aerosol during expedition onboard the RV Akademik Nikolaj Strakhov carried out during winter of 2015–2016 on the route from Colombo to Kaliningrad (via Suez Canal). As compared to the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic (near Europe), the atmosphere of the Arabian and Red Seas was characterized by higher values of most aerosol characteristics: 3–5 times larger aerosol optical depth (AOD), 4 times larger aerosol number concentration, 1.5 times larger concentrations of continent- and sea-derived ions, as well as more abundant gas admixtures (SO2, HCl, HNO3, NH3). At the same time, two seas of the Indian basin substantially differ in aerosol composition, primarily due to outflows of aerosols of different types from the continents. The largest concentrations of black carbon (2.14 μg m–3, on average), sea-derived ions (Na+, Cl–, Mg2+), and NH3 are observed over the Arabian Sea; larger values of the fine component of the AOD and concentrations of “continental” ions (SO42-, Ca2+, NO3-, NH4+) and gas admixtures SO2, HCl, HNO3 are found over the Red Sea. With respect to ion composition of aerosol, most stable concentrations are noted for Ca2+ ions (less than 15% difference among the seas), and maximal spatial variations are found for NH4+ ions (the difference of up to a factor of 40).

Results of long-term investigations on acid deposition in the area of South Baikal

We examine the acid deposition monitoring results (2000–2010) for the southern territory of East Siberia (the Irkutsk-Angarsk industrial center). It is established that acid deposition events are most frequently recorded in the area of South Baikal (70–100 km south-east of the Irkutsk-Angarsk industrial center), with the acidity of precipitation continuing to increase. Atmospheric precipitation acidity data are compared with long-term monitoring results for Europe.

Source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Lake Baikal water and adjacent air layer

ABSTRACT The composition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Lake Baikal water and adjacent air layer and PAH emission composition profiles of possible sources were investigated. Analysis of emission composition data showed that the source profiles could not be grouped by fuel type or pyrogenic/petrogenic origin. Because of the similarity of source PAH profiles, the drawing of 3D mixing diagrams was the only way to check whether some of the potential PAH sources were the true sources. The mixing diagrams showed that the sources of air pollution were paper mills and wood burning and that the sources of water pollution were coal-fired and oil-fired boilers. The common source for both air and water was only oil and petroleum products. To determine the locations of PAH sources, their contributions to air and water pollution were calculated and mapped. Based on the results, air and water were polluted from both local and regional sources. The location of the zone influenced by a particular source was conditioned by physical properties of source emission, direction of air/water flows that transfer PAHs and temperature differences between mixing air/water flows.

Investigations of microphysical and chemical composition of aerosol in near-water layer of the atmosphere over the White Sea

The peculiarities of spatial-temporal variability of the submicron aerosol number density NΣ (cm-3), particle size distribution in the diameter range 0.4 to 10 μm, mass concentration of submicron aerosol Ma (μg/m3) and the mass concentration of black carbon (soot, BC) Ms (μg/m3), as well as chemical composition of particles (ion composition of aerosol soluble fraction) in different regions of White Sea are considered in this paper. The effect of continental and marine sources on formation of the near-water aerosol characteristics is estimated.

Investigation of microphysical characteristics and chemical composition of near-ground aerosol in Barentsburg (Spitsbergen) in the spring and summer seasons of 2011-2015

Since 2011, the Institute of Atmospheric Optics (IAO SB RAS, Tomsk) and the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute of the Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (AARI, St. Petersburg) conduct field studies of near-ground aerosol characteristics at the Spitsbergen archipelago (Barentsburg) in the spring and summer seasons. The following parameters are measured in the atmospheric surface layer: aerosol particle number density and volume particle size distribution; mass concentrations of aerosol and absorbing matter (black carbon); coefficients of total aerosol scattering and aerosol backscattering in the visible spectral region. The experimental findings obtained in 2011– 2015 are reported. Peculiarities of the seasonal and year-to-year variability of the aerosol characteristics are revealed. The results of investigation of the chemical composition of the near-ground aerosol in Barentsburg are discussed.

Testing a passive method for measurement of surface ozone concentrations (Mondy Station, East Siberia)

The efficiency a new passive air sampling technique has been studied as a universal low-cost means of surface ozone monitoring. As a result of a half-year observation cycle, a large array of experimental data on surface ozone concentrations was collected using two techniques, i.e., the passive sampling and the optical technique. The efficiency of suggested passive ozone sampling technique is confirmed for long-term back-country measurements, particularly, for ROSHYDROMET stations.