Investigation and Evaluation of Pollution of Snow Cover on the Territory of an Industrial City (by the Example of Sterlitamak of Republic Bashkortostan)

Abstract

The snow cover of urbanized territory is investigated in the winter period for the content of main pollutants, and exceeding of the background concentration is observed over all ingredients under study. Pollution focuses of the snow cover of the city by definite substances are revealed by the results of the investigation. It is established that the distribution of contaminants over the city territory is affected by physiographical characteristics of area and meteorological characteristics of scattering of contaminants. The experimental data indicate that considerable amount of harmful impurities enters the snow cover from atmosphere and can be further washed out into the soil and underground waters. It is determined in the course of investigations that it is reasonable to use the data on the pollution of the snow cover of the territory under study as the mean to monitor the effects of anthropogenic sources to environment.