Concentrations of 210Pb and 210Po in the atmosphere of Ny-Alesund, Svalbard (scientific paper)

Abstract

Daily aerosol samples were collected from 24 February to 14 March 1995 in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. The samples were analyzed for ^Pb and ^Po radioactivities, and the following results and conclusions were obtained. Atmospheric ^Pb concentrations varied from 82.5±7.1μBq/m^3 to 1204±130μBq/m^3. According to the correlation analysis, the ^Pb concentrations positively correlated to the gradient of atmospheric pressure. The result indicates that the ^Pb concentrations increase as a function of air mass exchange over the Svalbard region. Residence times of the aerosols in Ny-Ålesund, which were calculated by using the ^Po/^Pb activity ratios, were approximately twice values obtained in the mid-latitude region. This may be the outcome of less efficient removal processes of aerosols from the atmosphere, e.g. coagulation and precipitation, owing to the low temperature conditions