Features of the fluoride behavior in the snow cover under the action of technological and weather conditions

Abstract

Abstract This article summarizes the results of systematization of monitoring heterogeneous weather records (1961–2014) and interpretation of long-term observations of fluoride ion concentration in the snow cover of an area susceptible to emissions from an aluminum smelter in 2000–2014. The monitoring was carried out by the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring of Russia. The trends and correlation coefficients established in this study show that F concentration in the snow cover is affected by the following concurrent factors: distance from the emission source, amount of atmospheric precipitation, air temperature and duration of thaws during the period starting from formation of a stable snow cover to the date of sampling. These results emphasize the need to consider the weather factor in the future in the annual comparison of fluoride ion concentrations in the snow cover in order to increase the reliability of data on the changes in fluorine emissions from an aluminum smelter over many years.