摘要：The chemical constituents within a snowpack can provide information about the
atmosphere through which the snow was deposited. Valdez is located in south-central
Alaska and has a high-latitude maritime climate, with annual snowfall typically
exceeding 8 m within the city limits. Valdez is also the termination point of the
trans-Alaska pipeline system, where tankers are loaded with crude oil from the North
Slope of Alaska. Integrated samples of the top 1 m of snow were collected at seven
sites near Valdez and analyzed for major solutes, lead, and alkylated aromatic
compounds, in particular benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX). For
comparison, sites were also sampled near Juneau, Alaska, which has a similar climate
but no petroleum transport infrastructure. Major solute chemistry at all sites
was dominated by chloride and was consistent with a marine air mass source
of ions in precipitation. Sulfate levels in Valdez were typically on the order of
10 µeq l−1 and significantly higher than found in Juneau snow. Other major solute levels were low in Valdez and
Juneau. Lead levels were below detection limits for all sites, with the exception of trace concentrations
(<0.4 µg l−1) reported at two Valdez locations. Alkylated organics were present at all Valdez locations,
at levels similar to those documented previously in urban locations. No alkylated organics
were detected in Juneau snowpacks.
