Arctic Haze Confirmed

Large jet aircraft are not the only sign of civilization penetrating the high Arctic on a daily basis. Distinct reddish-brown layers of manmade pollution haze now add color to the Arctic's whiteness.

Suspected for some years, it is now confirmed that industrial pollution from Europe, North America and Asia finds its way into the Arctic atmosphere via normal air circulation patterns. Measurements made at Barrow, Alaska, and at Mould Bay and Igloolik in Northwest Territories, Canada, show that the Arctic pollution is not as bad as near most cities. Peak values are about one-third the average air pollution measured in Berkeley, California. This Arctic pollution is bad enough to concern scientists because it might alter the polar climate if the current rate of pollution input to the Arctic persists.

The pollution tends to accumulate in the Arctic air because there is little rain or snowfall to strip out the pollutant particles during much of the year. The pollutants, mostly black soot, sulfuric acid and industrially-produced organic compounds, are light enough to float in the air unless washed out by precipitation. Then, of course, the pollutants contribute to the production of acid rain which makes some people vitriolic when they think about it, especially Canadians, whose forests and lakes are suffering most from acid rain's effects.

In early winter, most of the Arctic pollution appears to emanate from industrial areas in the Soviet Union. Later in winter, the pollution comes mostly from western Europe. By spring, the circulation into the Arctic may shift to bring up pollution from eastern North America. So it looks like many of the industrialized regions of the northern Hemisphere are contributing to the problem.