Sources of trace elements observed in the Arctic aerosol

There have been many efforts made to identify the sources of the airborne particles seen in the Arctic. In this study, the Potential Source Contribution Function (PSCF), a probability function based on the air parcel trajectory data coupled with the contaminant concentrations measured in that air parcel, has been calculated for a series of week long airborne particle samples collected at Alert, N.W.T. between 1983 and 1987. These samples have been analyzed by instrumental neutron activation. Using calculated 3 level back trajectories and extended Total Potential Source Contribution methodology, the patterns of total potential source contribution probabilities can be examined for each individual species or based on the results of a principal components analysis of the elemental data to examine covarying species. Regions with high PSCF values have a higher probability of contributing pollutants to the measured concentrations at the receptor site. The implications of these results for more specific identification of source regions of the various species are discussed