Tracking Toxicants: Unveiling the Biogeochemical Fate of Toxic Metals and Organic Matter in Arctic Snow

This project deals with studying metals of environmental concern (like lead, cadmium, mercury, zinc, copper etc.) and natural organic matter (OM) present in snow samples from coastal areas in the Arctic region. The main objective is to increase the understanding of the properties and the role of OM in snow/ice in the capturing mechanisms for selected toxic metals in the Arctic costal environment in early springtime. In doing so, another objective is to increase the knowledge about the biogeochemical cycling and fate of toxic metals reaching the Arctic area through long-range atmospheric transport and marine transport. Fieldwork will involve sampling of snow in three larger valleys following both a marine gradient and an altitude gradient in the early springtime just after the polar sunrise.