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Atmospheric Impacts due to Anthropogenic Activities in Remote Areas: The Case Study of Admiralty Bay/King George Island/Antarctic Peninsula

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Abstract

The aim of the present work is to characterize the local atmospheric emissions levels and compare them to the component derived from global pollution in a remote site at South Hemisphere (Admiralty Bay located at King George Island in Antarctic Peninsula). Airborne particles, snow and soil/sediments samples were analyzed. Local-produced atmospheric aerosol dispersion was estimated for metals originated by fossil fuel burning from the permanent scientific stations using a simplified Gaussian model. Validation of atmospheric dispersion was established by in situ measurements. Soluble and insoluble particles deposited in freshly snow and airborne particles were analyzed by PIXE (Particle Induced X-Ray Emission) for the determination of the elemental mass concentration and to obtain the Mass Median Aerodynamic Diameter (MMAD). The results showed significant correlation between the concentration of atmospheric aerosol and the freshly deposited particles in the snow, and permitted an estimate of the atmospheric snow deposition factor for K, Cu, Zn, Fe, Pb, and Ti. Results of long-term aerosol data compilation suggest that besides the local aerosol sources, the continental atmospheric transport of airborne particles is not significantly affected by the airborne particles produced by local human impacts at King George Island.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Brazilian Antarctic Program (PROANTAR-CNPq)/MMA grant (Project 55.0353/2002-0: Ice–atmosphere relationship). We would like to thank Mr. Daniel Oliveira Cruz for his help in field campaigns in Antarctica and Dr. Denise Rolão Araripe of Universidade Federal Fluminense-Brazil, for the ICP–MS analysis, Rosane Amaral for English review. The authors are grateful to FAPERJ, CNPq, IAEA and PRONEX for the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Militar de Engenharia (IME), Praça General Tibúrcio 80, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, CEP: 22290-270

    M. A. Leal & M. Joppert

  2. LARAMG/DBB/UERJ, Pav. Haroldo Lisboa da Cunha, Subsolo. R. S. Francisco Xavier, 524, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, CEP: 20550-013

    M. V. Licínio & H. Evangelista

  3. Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Outeiro de S. João Batista s/n°–5° andar, Niterói, RJ, Brazil, CEP: 24020-007

    J. Maldonado

  4. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), CCS – bloco G – Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, CEP: 21949-900

    K. C. Dalia

  5. Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-RIO), R. Marq. de S. Vicente, 225, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, CEP: 22451-041

    C. Lima & C. V. Barros Leite

  6. Faculdade de Tecnologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rod. Presidente Dutra km 298, Resende, RJ, Brazil, CEP: 27537-000

    S. M. Correa

  7. Instituto de Radioproteção e Dosimetria – (IRD/CNEN), Av. Salvador Allende s/n, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, CEP 22 780-160

    Geiza Medeiros & K. Dias da Cunha

Authors
  1. M. A. Leal
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  2. M. Joppert
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  3. M. V. Licínio
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  4. H. Evangelista
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  5. J. Maldonado
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  6. K. C. Dalia
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  7. C. Lima
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  8. C. V. Barros Leite
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  9. S. M. Correa
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  10. Geiza Medeiros
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  11. K. Dias da Cunha
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. Dias da Cunha.

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Leal, M.A., Joppert, M., Licínio, M.V. et al. Atmospheric Impacts due to Anthropogenic Activities in Remote Areas: The Case Study of Admiralty Bay/King George Island/Antarctic Peninsula. Water Air Soil Pollut 188, 67–80 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-007-9525-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-007-9525-7

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