Snow samples as markers of air pollution in mass spectrometry analysis

Abstract

Snow can store with minimal further modifications the air born pollutants carried by winds over long distances. The “Cold Finger”� phenomenon carries the pollutants from warmer zones toward cold ones i.e., to Polar Regions and high mountains. This automatic natural sample storage keeps them in fall out layers. Mass spectrometry provides information not only on the structures of the pollutants but also on their relations and sources. This issue helps in the analysis of even distant sources of pollution, as well as the problems of transboundary transfer. Both targeted and non-targeted analyses are applicable. Examples are given to illustrate the values of these technologies in the identification of distant pollution sources in Antarctica, Canada, Greenland, Finland, Russia, etc.