Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Snow”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Greenland snow evidence of large scale atmospheric contamination for platinum, palladium, and rhodium.

Since 1976 in the United States, Canada, and Japan, and later in other countries, the exhaust system of gasoline powered cars has been equipped with catalytic converters containing Pt and/or Pd and/or Rh. This has resulted in a very significant decrease in urban air pollution for various chemical species such as NOx, CO, and hydrocarbons. There has however been concern that their ever increasing use might lead to Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) becoming widely dispersed in the environment. From the analysis of Pt, Pd, and Rh in central Greenland recent snow and ancient ice using the ultrasensitive inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry technique, we show here that the concentrations of these metals in snow dated from the mid 1990s are indeed approximately 40-120 times higher than in ice dated from 7000 years ago. The fact that such an increase is observed far away from populated areas at a high altitude location indicates there is now a large scale contamination of the troposphere of the Northern Hemisphere for PGMs. Pt/Rh mass ratio in the most recent snow samples is close to the same ratio documented for catalytic converter exhausts in a recent study, which suggests that a large fraction of the recent increase for Pt and Rh might originate from automobile catalytic converters.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMed2001

Tracing the origin of pollution in French Alpine snow and aerosols using lead isotopic ratios.

Fresh snow samples collected at 15 remote locations and aerosols collected at one location in the French Alps between November 1998 and April 1999 have been analyzed for Pb concentration and isotopic composition by thermal ionization mass spectrometry. The snow samples contained 19-1300 pg/g of Pb with isotopic ratios 206Pb/207Pb (208Pb/207Pb) of 1.1279-1.1607 (2.3983-2.4302). Airborne Pb concentrations at one sampling site ranged from 0.42 to 6.0 ng/m3 with isotopic ratios of 1.1321-1.1427 (2.4029-2.4160). Air mass trajectory analysis combined with isotopic compositions of potential source regions did not show discernible evidence of the long-range atmospheric transport of pollutants. Isotopic ratios in the Alpine snow samples and thus the free troposphere were generally higher than airborne Pb isotopic ratios in urban France, which coupled with the relatively high Pb concentrations suggested a regional anthropogenic Pb source, probably Italy but possibly Eastern Europe.

Aerosols↗
PubMed2006

Mercury in the atmosphere, snow and melt water ponds in the North Atlantic Ocean during Arctic summer.

Atmospheric mercury speciation measurements were performed during a 10 week Arctic summer expedition in the North Atlantic Ocean onboard the German research vessel RV Polarstern between June 15 and August 29, 2004. This expedition covered large areas of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans between latitudes 54 degrees N and 85 degrees N and longitudes 16 degrees W and 16 degrees E. Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) and mercury associated with particles (Hg-P) were measured during this study. In addition, total mercury in surface snow and meltwater ponds located on sea ice floes was measured. GEM showed a homogeneous distribution over the open North Atlantic Ocean (median 1.53 +/- 0.12 ng/m3), which is in contrast to the higher concentrations of GEM observed over sea ice (median 1.82 +/- 0.24 ng/m3). It is hypothesized that this results from either (re-) emission of mercury contained in snow and ice surfaces that was previously deposited during atmospheric mercury depletion events (AMDE) in the spring or evasion from the ocean due to increased reduction potential at high latitudes during Arctic summer. Measured concentrations of total mercury in surface snow and meltwater ponds were low (all samples <10 ng/L), indicating that marginal accumulation of mercury occurs in these environmental compartments. Results also reveal low concentrations of RGM and Hg-P without a significant diurnal variability. These results indicate that the production and deposition of these reactive mercury species do not significantly contribute to the atmospheric mercury cycle in the North Atlantic Ocean during the Arctic summer.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2003

Seasonal variations of heavy metals in central Greenland snow deposited from 1991 to 1995.

To better assess the seasonality in the fallout of heavy metals to central Greenland, a continuous series of 68 snow samples has been collected at a remote site in the Summit area from a 2.7 m pit using ultraclean sampling procedures. This covers a continuous four year time period from spring 1991 to spring 1995. Co, Cu, Zn, Mo, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Sb, Pt, Pb, Bi and U were determined using ultrasensitive inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry under clean room conditions. In addition we also determined Al by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and Na+, Ca2+, SO4(2-), MSA and oxalate by ion chromatography, species that will assist in the interpretation of the trace metal data. The data show pronounced inter- and intra-annual variations, with large differences in the amplitude of these variations for the element studied, with few clear seasonality patterns. Generally, high concentrations are observed in the spring snow layers, while much lower concentrations are typical of summer snow layers. Significant correlations are observed between Co, Cu, Zn, Ag and Sb, while Pt, Pd and Rh show no correlation with the other metals. Crustal enrichment factors show that while the crustal dust contribution is probably important for some metals for part of the year (spring), anthropogenic inputs are as important in many instances. Pronounced intra-annual variations are observed for some metals, in particular Pt. The variations observed for this metal parallel fairly closely changes in Russian Pt production, which points to emissions from smelters in the Russian Arctic as likely sources for Pt.

Air Movements↗
PubMed2005

Increasing atmospheric antimony contamination in the northern hemisphere: snow and ice evidence from Devon Island, Arctic Canada.

Adopting recently developed clean laboratory techniques, antimony (Sb) and scandium (Sc) deposition were measured in a 63.72 m-long ice core (1842-1996) and a 5 m deep snow pit (1994-2004) collected on Devon Island, Canadian High Arctic. Antimony concentrations ranged from 0.07 to 108 pg g(-1) with a median of 0.98 pg g(-1)(N= 510). Scandium, used as a conservative reference element, revealed that dust inputs were effectively constant during the last 160 years. The atmospheric Sb signal preserved in the ice core reflects contamination from industrialisation, the economic boom which followed WWII, as well as the comparatively recent introduction of flue gas filter technologies and emission reduction efforts. Natural contributions to the total Sb inventory are negligible, meaning that anthropogenic emissions have dominated atmospheric Sb deposition throughout the entire period. The seasonal resolution of the snow pit showed that aerosols deposited during the Arctic winter, when air masses are derived mainly from Eurasia, show the greatest Sb concentrations. Deposition during summer, when air masses come mainly from North America, is still enriched in Sb, but less so. Snow and ice provide unambiguous evidence that enrichments of Sb in Arctic air have increased 50% during the past three decades, with two-thirds being deposited during winter. Most Sb is produced in Asia, primarily from Sb sulfides such as stibnite (Sb2S3), but also as a by-product of lead and copper smelting. In addition there is a growing worldwide use of Sb in automobile brake pads, plastics and flame retardants. In contrast to Pb which has gone into decline during the same interval because of the gradual elimination of gasoline lead additives, the enrichments of Sb have been increasing and today clearly exceed those of Pb. Given that the toxicity of Sb is comparable to that of Pb, Sb has now replaced Pb in the rank of potentially toxic trace metals in the Arctic atmosphere.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2004

Snow conditions may create an invisible barrier for lynx.

The dynamics of Canadian lynx (Lynx canadensis) abundance are geographically structured according to the influence of large-scale climatic regimes. Here we demonstrate that this structuring matches zones of differential snow conditions, in particular surface hardness, as determined by the frequency of winter warm spells. Through a modified functional response curve, we show that various features of the snow may influence lynx interaction with its main prey species, the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus). This study highlights the importance of snow, and exemplifies how large-scale climatic fluctuations can mechanistically influence population biological patterns.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lead contamination of urban snow.

Lead content of newly fallen snow in an urban area ranges from 34 to 56 ppb. After falling, snow may incorporate major additional amounts of lead by dry deposition of lead aerosols from local sources. The highest concentration found was 2,700 ppb. Ingestion of lead-contaminated snow might pose a health hazard to inner city children.

Lead↗
PubMed1994

A review of the friction of snow skis.

Snow friction results from a mixture of processes. With little meltwater present, the surfaces are partially separated and, when too much water is present, the contact area increases and there may be capillary attachments. Slider thermal conductivity and even colour are very important. Heat is generated by friction and solar radiation absorbtion and is conducted away by both slider and ice particles. The remaining heat is available to generate meltwater which acts as a lubricant. While sliders must be designed for use over a narrow range of snow and weather conditions, polyethylene bases can be structured and waxed to broaden that range. The important processes operate not at the air temperature, but at the ski base temperature, which is highly dependent on such things as snow-surface temperature, load and speed. The roughness elements and contact areas must be characterized before the basic processes can be understood further.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed2006

Influence of simulated acid snow stress on leaf tissue of wintering herbaceous plants.

Acid snow might be an environmental stress factor for wintering plants since acid precipitates are locally concentrated in snow and the period in which ice crystals are in contact with shoots might be longer than that of acid precipitates in rain. In this study, 'equilibrium' and 'prolonged' freezing tests with sulfuric acid, which simulate situations of temperature depression and chronic freezing at a subzero temperature with acid precipitate as acid snow stress, respectively, were carried out using leaf segments of cold-acclimated winter wheat. When leaf segments were frozen in the presence of sulfuric acid solution (pH 4.0, 3.0 or 2.0) by equilibrium freezing with ice seeding, the survival rate of leaf samples treated with sulfuric acid solution of pH 2.0 decreased markedly. Leaf samples after supercooling to -4 and -8 degrees C in the presence of sulfuric acid solution (pH 2.0) without ice seeding were less damaged. When leaf samples were subjected to prolonged freezing at -4 and -8 degrees C for 7 d with sulfuric acid (pH 2.0), the survival rates of leaf samples exposed to sulfuric acid decreased more than those of leaf samples treated with water. On the other hand, leaf samples were less damaged by prolonged supercooling at -4 and -8 degrees C for 7 d with sulfuric acid (pH 2.0). The results suggest that an acid condition (pH 2.0) in the process of extracellular freezing and/or thawing promotes freezing injury of wheat leaves.

Acids↗
PubMed2006

Small rodent winter survival: snow conditions limit access to food resources.

1. In Fennoscandia during winter small rodents spend most of their time in the subnivean space, between the snow cover and the ground. The subnivean space is probably not a uniform habitat, but broken into accessible and inaccessible patches by ice covering the vegetation. This might reduce access to otherwise available food resources. 2. To test whether ice formations reduce access to food and thus limit winter survival of small rodents, we conducted an experiment where we increased subnivean space by adding corrugated aluminium sheets on the ground before onset of winter. The sheets prevented ice formation, thus mimicking natural occurring subnivean space, and providing more room for animals living in the subnivean space to forage. 3. During the experiment 142 Microtus oeconomus were passive induced transponder (PIT)-tagged, and a system consisting of fixed tube-shaped antennas and PIT-tag readers were used to provide data to analyse winter survival and individual subnivean space use. The extent of winter grazing was measured after snow melt by examining percentage area grazed. 4. The treatment resulted in increased survival which corresponded well with significantly higher space use and more grazing under the sheets. 5. Females showed a positive correlation between probability of survival and body mass while no such effect was observed in males. 6. The results suggest that the snow cover reduces survival in winter by physically enclosing the vegetation in ice and thus reducing access to otherwise available food resources. The amount of ice and its configuration might vary between years due to changing weather patterns. Our results offer a mechanistic explanation for variations in winter survival and suggest incorporating climate variables in future small rodent models. 7. Directional and long-term changes in climate might result in increased ice formation in the subnivean system. Such deterioration may lead to reduced winter survival and act by stabilizing population dynamics and dampening vole cyclicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Parasuicidal snow-wandering in Arctic northern Norway.

Psychiatric morbidity in the Arctic has not been extensively studied. Seasonal variations in climate, light and darkness are unique for these areas and impose special kinds of strains on the population. Three case-histories focusing on snow-wandering as a parasuicidal act are presented. One of them bears some resemblance to the Arctic hysteria described among Eskimoes. Reasons for choosing snow-wandering as an alternative to other kinds of suicide are discussed and a hypothesis is suggested. The psychological and physiological factors as explanations for post snow-wandering amnesia are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Identification in situ and dynamics of bacteria on limnetic organic aggregates (lake snow).

Microbial assemblages on large organic aggregates (lake snow) of Lake Constance, Germany, were analyzed with rRNA-directed fluorescent oligonucleotide probes specific for the domain Bacteria and the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-subclasses of the class Proteobacteria. Lake snow aggregates were either collected in situ by SCUBA diving or in a sediment trap at 50 m or formed of natural lake water incubated in rolling cylinders under simulated in situ conditions. For the latter aggregates, the time course of the microbial colonization was also examined. The natural aggregates and those made in rolling cylinders were composed of the particulate organic material present in the lake and thus reflected the composition of the ambient plankton community. All types of lake snow aggregates examined were heavily colonized by microbial cells and harbored between 0.5 x 10(6) and > 2 x 10(6) cells aggregate -1. Between 55 and 100% of the microbial cells stained with 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) could be visualized with the domain Bacteria-specific probe. In most samples, beta-subclass proteobacteria dominated the microbial community, constituting 27 to 42% of total cells as counted by DAPI staining, irrespective of the composition of the aggregates. During the time course experiments with the laboratory-made aggregates, the fraction of beta-subclass proteobacteria usually increased over time. Except for a few samples, alpha- and gamma-subclass proteobacteria were far less abundant than beta-subclass proteobacteria, constituting 11 to 25 and 9 to 33% of total cells, respectively. Therefore, we assume that a specific aggregate-adapted microbial community was established on the aggregates. Because the compositions of the microbial assemblages on natural and laboratory-made aggregates were similar, we conclude that aggregates made in rolling cylinders are good model system with which to examine the formation and microbial colonization of macroscopic organic aggregates.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2005

Is snow a sufficient source of water for horses kept outdoors in winter? A case report.

Due to extreme weather conditions, a flock of outwintered Icelandic horses had to manage for several days on snow as the source of free water. They were fed grass silage ad lib, and any change in feed consumption was not observed. After nine days, blood samples were taken and analysed for plasma osmolality, they were subjected to a simple clinical examination, and offered drinking water. Osmolality levels were within normal limits and mean value did not differ significantly from samples which previously were taken of the same individuals. The general condition of the horses was normal, with no signs of clinical dehydration or disease. The horses showed very little interest for the offered drinking water. This suggests that in cold winter weather, horses being fed grass silage and adjusted to eat snow, can manage for several days with snow substituting liquid water without their physiology and welfare being challenged.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Accumulation of hydroxycinnamic acid amides in winter wheat under snow.

It was found that the content of antifungal compounds p-coumaroylagmatine [1-(trans-4'-hydroxycinnamoylamino)-4-guanidinobutane] and p-coumaroyl-3-hydroxyagmatine [1-(trans-4'-hydroxycinnamoylamino)-3-hydroxy-4-guanidinobutane] in the crown of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv Chihokukomugi) significantly increased under snow cover. This finding suggests that the accumulation of these hydroxycinnamic acid amides was caused by winter stress and related to protecting the plant against snow mold under snow cover.

Agmatine↗
PubMed1997

Springtime peaks of trace metals in Antarctic snow.

Drifting snow samples were collected at Asuka Station (71 degrees 32'S, 24 degrees 08'E, 930 m above sea level) over a period from July to December 1991; 36 elements (including Na, Mg, K, Ca, Fe, Al, Li, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Se, Rb, Sr, Cd, Pb, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and Th) in snow were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) by direct sample introduction. Concentrations of Cl-, NO3-, and SO(4)2- in the snow were also determined by ion chromatography. In late September to early October, there was a pronounced peak concentration of most of the elements together with non-sea salt sulfate. Enrichment factor analyses suggest that Na, Mg, Ca, K, and Sr are of marine origin and Al, Fe, Mn, Rb, Cr, Ni, Ga, V, and all the rare earth elements are of crustal origins. Volcanic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo (June 1991) and Mt. Hudson (August 1991) could be the reason for the precipitation of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Se together with non-sea salt sulfates in the austral spring at Asuka Station.

Meteorological Concepts↗
PubMed2001

The light environment and cellular optics of the snow alga Chlamydomonas nivalis (Bauer) Wille.

The alga Chlamydomonas nivalis lives in a high-light, cold environment: persistent alpine snowfields. Since the algae in snow receive light from all angles, the photon fluence rate is the critical parameter for photosynthesis, but it is rarely measured. We measured photon irradiance and photon fluence rate in the snow that contained blooms of C. nivalis. On a cloudless day the photon fluence rate at the snow surface was nearly twice the photon irradiance, and it can be many times greater than the photon irradiance when the solar angle is low or the light is diffuse. Beneath the surface the photon fluence rate can be five times the photon irradiance. Photon irradiance and photon fluence rate declined exponentially with depth, approximating the Bouguer-Lambert relationship. We used an integrating sphere to measure the spectral characteristics of a monolayer of cells and microscopic techniques to examine the spectral characteristics of individual cells. Astaxanthin blocked blue light and unknown absorbers blocked UV radiation; the penetration of these wavelengths through whole cells was negligible. We extracted astaxanthin, measured absorbance on a per-cell basis and estimated that the layer of astaxanthin within cells would allow only a small percentage of the blue light to reach the chloroplast, potentially protecting the chloroplast from excessive light.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Ultraviolet radiation and the snow alga Chlamydomonas nivalis (Bauer) Wille.

Aplanospores of Chlamydomonas nivalis are frequently found in high-altitude, persistent snowfields where they are photosynthetically active despite cold temperatures and high levels of visible and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The goals of this work were to characterize the UV environment of the cells in the snow and to investigate the existence and localization of screening compounds that might prevent UV damage. UV irradiance decreased precipitously in snow, with UV radiation of wavelengths 280-315 nm and UV radiation of wavelengths 315-400 nm dropping to 50% of incident levels in the top 1 and 2 cm, respectively. Isolated cell walls exhibited UV absorbance, possibly by sporopollenin, but this absorbance was weak in images of broken or plasmolyzed cells observed through a UV microscope. The cells also contained UV-absorbing cytoplasmic compounds, with the extrachloroplastic carotenoid astaxanthin providing most of the screening. Additional screening compound(s) soluble in aqueous methanol with an absorption maximum at 335 nm played a minor role. Thus, cells are protected against potentially high levels of UV radiation by the snow itself when they live several centimeters beneath the surface, and they rely on cellular screening compounds, chiefly astaxanthin, when located near the surface where UV fluxes are high.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Red snow: is it safe to eat? A pilot study.

The objective of this study was to determine if the ingestion of snow contaminated with Chlamydomonas nivalis causes diarrhea. The design was a single-blind crossover. Subjects were seven healthy volunteers, aged 24-56 who ingested 500 g of snow contaminated with C. nivalis. Outcome was measured by stool and diarrhea frequency. No differences in stool or diarrhea frequency were noted between treatment and placebo groups. The conclusion is that in this pilot study, there was no evidence supporting the concern that ingestion of "red snow" causes diarrhea.

Adult↗