Acidic precipitation at a site within the northeastern conurbation

Abstract

Rain and snow were collected in plastic beakers either manually or with a Wong sampler during 58 precipitation events in 1974 at Yonkers, New York approximately 24 km north of the center of New York City. Determinations were made of total dissolved ionic species, free H ions, total H ions, sulfate, nitrate, chloride, and fluoride. Conductivity measurements ranged from 6.8 to 162 gmhos, pH from 3.4 to 4.9, total acidity from 36 to 557 p.eq 1-1 sulfate from less than 1 to 20 mg 1 -I, nitrate from less than 1 to 14 mg 1-1, and chloride from less than 1 to 7 mg 1-1. All fluoride concentrations were less than 0.1 mg 1-1.The results indicate that precipitation at this suburban location adjacent to New York City is consistently acidic and contains concentrations of sulfate, nitrate, and chloride which are similar to values found for other locations in the northeastern United States. Positive correlations were found between nitrate and sulfate concentrations and acidity suggesting that the atmospheric contaminants, SO2, and NO 2 are causally-related to the occurrence of acidic precipitation. Further research will be necessary to clarify the relative influence of natural and man-made sources of N and S compounds and the contributions of gaseous and particulate contaminants in the atmosphere to the acidity of precipitation at this location.

Atmospheric Contributions to Forest Nutrient Cycling1

“…The rate of atmospheric deposition at a given site can be viewed during a single storm (Cooper, et al, 1976), over several storms (Jacobson, et al, 1976), or for extended periods of time. For interpretation of forest management practices, a season is probably the minimum period of importance, and annual values are an essential unit of resolution.…”

A critical review of measurement practices for the determination of pH and acidity of atmospheric precipitation

“…There appears to be one point of consensus: the majority ot researchers who use electrometric measurements prefer combination elotrodes [4,7,17,18,19,20].…”

“…Portions of this work were funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Contract Number IAG-AO-13-F-2-535-0 , Subagreement 3. atmosphere [17] 3.…”