Source areas of airborne 7Be and 210Pb measured in Northern Finland

Daily aerosol samples were collected at Sodankylä, Northern Finland, from July 1995 to June 1997. The filter samples were analyzed for 7Be by semiconductor gamma spectrometry and for 210Pb by alpha counting of the in-grown 210Po. The concentrations were lognormally distributed with median concentrations of 2,500 and 160 muBq m(-3) for 7Be and 210Pb, respectively. The trajectory analysis performed showed that the highest 210Pb activity concentrations were associated with continental air masses originating in Central Russia. High 7Be activity concentrations were found in air masses from Central Russia and, during springtime, also in air masses coming from southwest. The latter cases were attributed to the transfer of stratospheric air masses into the troposphere along the polar front. Slightly elevated 7Be and 210Pb concentrations were found in air masses coming to Sodankyla from northwest between 70th and 80th latitudes. This was attributed to the long-range transport from continental North America.