Hierarchical Factor Analysis Applied for Interpreting Chemical Elements Deposited with Atmospheric Precipitation in Karelia

V. M. Feoktistov, V. N. Kharin, and E. N. Specktor

The data on deposition density of Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Br, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, I, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Th, Tl, U, V, Zn, Cl–, F–, NO_3^– and SO_4^(2–) in atmospheric precipitation were derived at six stations in the Republic of Karelia. The structure and space-time distribution of five sets (factors) of chemical components of the first order and two factors of the second order are revealed with the help of hierarchical factor analysis. Factor analysis of the second order demonstrated that atmospheric precipitation chemistry at all stations considered differs greatly in the winter and summer, forming two independent sets of components. The first-order factors revealed chemical indicators characterizing specific features of the atmospheric precipitation chemistry in the Karelian regions studied.