Evolution of the Snow Area Index of the Subarctic Snowpack in Central Alaska over a Whole Season. Consequences for the Air to Snow Transfer of Pollutants

Authors

A.S. Taillandier, University of Alaska Fairbanks
F. Domine, University of Alaska Fairbanks
W.R. Simpson, University of Alaska Fairbanks
M. Sturm, U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory
T.A. Douglas, U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory
K Severin, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2006

Comments

Published in Environmental Science & Technology Vol. 40, N. 24, 2006.

Abstract

The detailed physical characteristics of the subarctic snowpack must be known to quantify the exchange of adsorbed pollutants between the atmosphere and the snow cover. For the first time, the combined evolutions of specific surface area (SSA), snow stratigraphy, temperature, and density were monitored throughout winter in central Alaska. We define the snow area index (SAI) as the vertically integrated surface area of snow crystals, and this variable is used to quantify pollutants’ adsorption. Intense metamorphism generated by strong temperature gradients formed a thick depth hoar layer with low SSA (90 cm² g^-1) and density (200 kg m^-3), resulting in a low SAI. After snowpack buildup in autumn, the winter SAI remained around 1000 m²/m² of ground, much lower than the SAI of the Arctic snowpack, 2500 m² m^-2. With the example of PCBs 28 and 180, we calculate that the subarctic snowpack is a smaller reservoir of adsorbed pollutants than the Arctic snowpack and less efficiently transfers adsorbed pollutants from the atmosphere to ecosystems. The difference is greater for the more volatile PCB 28. With climate change, snowpack structure will be modified, and the snowpack’s ability to transfer adsorbed pollutants from the atmosphere to ecosystems may be reduced, especially for the more volatile pollutants.