Polycyclic aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) content in the peat of a palsa near Eletsky settlement (Bol'shezemel'skaya Tundra)

The total content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the peat of a palsa near Eletsky settlement, Vorkuta urban district, Komi Republic, varies from 11 to 360 ppb, with an average of 63 ppb. Heavy compounds, such as benzo(a)anthracene and benzofluoranthenes, are prevalent among PAHs. Benzo(a)anthracene decreases with depth, while benzofluoranthenes increases. The presence of PAHs in the peat is determined by three main factors: technogenic impact, wildfires, and biogeochemical soil processes. The prevalence of benzo(a)anthracene in the upper part of the palsa down to the bottom of the active layer suggests an anthropogenic impact (the influence of transport and domestic fuel combustion). Two sharp peaks of PAHs content (260 and 360 ppb) are observed; they coincide with a local increase of carbon isotope values, most likely resulting from wildfires. The minimums in PAHs content are presumably determined by the biogeochemical factor and the input of polyarenes generated by decomposition of plant residues

Major and trace elements, δ¹³C, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Late Pleistocene ice wedges: A case-study of Batagay yedoma, Central Yakutia

We studied the ionic composition of ice, the content of suspended and dissolved trace- and major elements in ice, values of δ¹³С, and the composition of PAHs of inclusions in the Late Pleistocene syngenetic ice wedges of the Batagay yedoma. For the first time, the complex geochemical study of Batagay megaslump was carried out. The ice of the upper and lower complex of different ages was studied. Mineralisation of the Late Pleistocene ice wedges of Batagay yedoma ranges from 66.56 to 424.8 mg/l, from ultrafresh to desalinated, the ionic composition of the ice is bicarbonate-calcium and corresponds to snow formed under the influence of continental air masses. The proportion of Ca contained in dissolved form is not more than 20-30%; as for the other elements, the proportion of Mg, K, Na, Al, Fe, Mn, Sr, Ba in suspended form is greater than 90%. The content of trace elements in inclusions in ice wedges and soils is equal, which confirms the pedogenic origin of the inclusions in ice. According to our data, values of δ¹³С in lipids of the pedogenic material in ice decrease with depth. The lowest values (values of δ¹³С less than -30‰) were observed in the ice wedge of the upper complex at a depth of 7.4-8.6 m. The increase of δ¹³C values of lipids from pedogenic material in ice wedges with depth is due to the landscape change from grassland ecosystems to forest ecosystems, and may also be influenced by the increased frequency of fires that occurred during the transition to forest ecosystems and the disappearance of large herbivores

Trace elements in Batagay ice wedges, structure ice, Batagaika and Yana River water, North Yakutia, Russia

Average content of some trace elements in ice wedges, structure ice, Batagaika and Yana River water. Samples were taken rom the Batagay megaslump, 10 km to south east from Batagay settlement in the Verkhoyansky District of the Yakutia (Sakha) Republic, Russia. The analysis was carried out in samples filtered through the membrane filter (filtered) as well as in samples, that were taken after organic inclusions were precipitated (unfiltered)

Trace elements content in soils and soil inclusions in Batagay ice wedges, North Yakutia, Russia

Trace elements in soil and soil inclusions of ice wedges from the Batagay megaslump, 10 km to south east from Batagay settlement in the Verkhoyansky District of the Yakutia (Sakha) Republic, Russia

Ionic composition of Batagay ice wedges, North Yakutia, Russia

Ionic omposition of ice wedges from the Batagay megaslump, 10 km to south east from Batagay settlement in the Verkhoyansky District of the Yakutia (Sakha) Republic, Russia

Organic carbon content, δ13С values (‰) and PAHs content in pedogenic material of Batagay ice wedges, North Yakutia, Russia

The oganic carbon content, δ13С values (‰) and content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was determined in pedogenic material of Batagay ice wedges