Significant spatial variations of the atmospheric environment at remote site of the Tibetan Plateau – a case study on major ions of precipitation around Nam Co Station

Abstract

Abstract Remote region is normally considered a receptor of long-range transported pollutants. Monitoring stations are important platforms for investigating the atmospheric environment of remote regions. However, the potential contribution of very local sources around these stations may produce important influences on its atmospheric environment, which is still barely studied. In this study, major ions of precipitation were investigated simultaneously at a typical remote station (Nam Co station) and other sites nearby on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) –the so-called “The Third Pole” in the world. The results showed that despite low values compared to those of other remote regions, the concentrations of major ions in precipitation of Nam Co Station (e.g., Ca2+: 31.47 µeq/L; SO2- 4: 1.72 µeq/L) were significantly higher than those at a site around 2.2 Km away (Ca2+: 11.99 µeq/L; SO2- 4: 0.80 µeq/L), providing direct evidence that atmospheric environment at Nam Co Station is significantly influenced by mineral dust and pollutants emitted from surface soil and anthropogenic pollutants of the station itself. Therefore, numbers of other related data reported on the station are influenced. For example, the aerosol concentration and some anthropogenic pollutants reported on Nam Co Station should be overestimated. Correspondingly, similar phenomenon should exist at other remote stations of the TP, which needs to be considered. Meanwhile, it is suggested that it is cautious in selecting sites for monitoring the atmospheric environment at the remote station to reduce the potential influence from local sources.