title: New insights into trace element wet deposition in the Himalayas: amounts, seasonal patterns, and implications.
abstract: Our research provides the first complete year-long dataset of wet deposition of trace elements in the high Himalayas based on a total of 42 wet deposition events on the northern slope of Mt. Qomolangma (Everest). Except for typical crustal elements (Al, Fe, and Mn), the concentration level of most trace elements (Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, Sn, Cs, Pb, Bi, and U) are generally comparable to those preserved in snow pits and ice cores from the nearby East Rongbuk Glacier. Cadmium was the element most affected by anthropogenic emissions. No pronounced seasonal variations are observed for most trace elements despite different transport pathways. In our study, the composition of wet precipitation reflects a regional background condition and is not clearly related to specific source regions. For the trace element record from ice cores and snow pits in the Himalayas, it could be deduced that the pronounced seasonal patterns were caused by the dry deposition of trace elements (aerosols) during their long exposure to the atmosphere after precipitation events. Our findings are of value for the understanding of the trace element deposition mechanisms in the Himalayas.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Building 3, Courtyard 16, Lincui Road, Chaoyang District, 100101, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhiyuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cong
authors.forename: Shichang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yulan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shaopeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Zhongyan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wan
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D046448:Ice Cover / Q000737:chemistry; D007194:India; D011891:Rain / Q000737:chemistry; D012621:Seasons; D012914:Snow / Q000737:chemistry; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements