Factors influencing atmospheric wet deposition of trace elements in rural Korea

In this study, precipitation samples were collected in a rural area of Korea between August 2006 and July 2009. The volume weighted mean (VWM) concentrations showed distinct seasonal variations, having high values in winter and low values in summer. Westerly winds that prevailed during the cold season were associated with enhanced concentrations of trace elements in precipitation. Based on back-trajectory analysis these samples were often associated with industrialized areas of China and metropolitan areas of Korea. Wet deposition fluxes of trace elements were inversely related to the VWM concentration, having high values in the summer due to the large precipitation depths. However, the largest wet deposition fluxes were observed for snow events despite their low precipitation depth, indicating that snow was a more efficient scavenger of trace elements than rain.

► Wet deposition fluxes of trace elements were measured in a rural area of Korea for 3 years.
► Westerly winds were associated with enhanced concentrations of trace elements in precipitation.
► Arsenic showed a good correlation with Cd and Zn, but Ni did not show a strong correlation.
► The overall flux generally was highest during summer due to large precipitation depths.
► Snow was a more efficient scavenger of trace elements than rain, showing a large wet deposition flux.