Industrial and wildfire aerosol pollution over world heritage Lake Baikal

Aerosol pollution from industrial emissions and wildfires significantly impacts the UNESCO World Heritage Site Lake Baikal, threatening its unique ecosystem. The study, conducted during a July 2018 expedition, reveals that fine particle numbers, PM10, and black carbon (BC) mass concentrations are elevated due to industrial activities in Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk regions, as well as wildfires from the Republic of Yakutia. Highest pollution levels were observed near harbor and touristic areas, with residential biomass burning contributing to the problem. Lidar sounding and meteorological observations provided insights into aerosol optical properties, including scattering, spectral absorption, and Absorption Angstrom Exponent (AAE), indicating varying pollution sources. The research underscores the severe ecological impact of aerosol deposition on Lake Baikal's pristine environment.

Popovicheva, O., Molozhnikova, E., Nasonov, S., Potemkin, V., Penner, I., Klemasheva, M., Marinaite, I., Golobokova, L., Vratolis, S., Eleftheriadis, K., & Khodzher, T. (2021). Industrial and wildfire aerosol pollution over world heritage Lake Baikal. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 107, 49–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2021.01.011