Abstract:

The some trace elements in the Antarctic and Arctic snow, ice, water were studied using the methodology and theory of water vapor chemistry. The concentrations of ions Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Sn⁴⁺, Bi³⁺ in Antarctic and Arctic snow a significant spatial similarity; they are also close to those defined elsewhere on the basic of studies of water vapor chemistry: on average Zn²⁺ 5.0 μg/L, Cd²⁺ 0.080 μg/L, Pb²⁺ 0.030 μg/L, Cu²⁺ 0.70 μg/L, Sn⁴⁺ 0.99 μg/L, Bi³⁺ 0.18 μg/L. Apparently, the ion concentration in the Antarctic and Arctic region represent natural baseline values and are controlled by natural water cycles.

Key words: Antarctic and Arctic snow, trace element ions, water vapor chemistry