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Relationships between concentration and deposition of nitrate and sulphate in precipitation

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Abstract

It has been shown that annual NO3− concentrations in Swedish precipitation rose from the late 1950s to the early 1970s and then remained constant at around the early 1970s level1. The mean concentration in precipitation of a chemical species is one measure of pollution but of possible greater relevance for potential ecological damage is deposition, the total amount of the species input to the surface. We demonstrate here, using data from Eskdalemuir, Scotland (55°19′ N, 3°12′ W), that time trends in sulphate and nitrate deposition may differ in response to the influence of changes in precipitation amount. The consequence is that a change in precipitation amount alone will produce changes in the relative sulphate and nitrate deposition levels. Moreover, such changes could occur even if other parameters such as relative emission rates remained constant. Consequently, any assessment of nitrate/sulphate deposition should consider climatological as well as emission factors.

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References

  1. 1. Rodhe, H. & Rood, M. J. Nature 321, 762–764 (1986). 2. Kallend, A. S. et al. Atmos. Environ. 17, 127–137 (1983). 3. Rodhe, H. & Granat, L. Atmos. Environ. 18, 2627–2639 (1984). 4. Nodop, K., Skjelmoen, J. E. & Schaug, J. EMEP / CCC–Rep, 2/85 (Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Lillestr0m, 1985). 5. Calvert, J. G. et al. Nature 317, 27–35 (1985). 6. Davies, T. D. et al. Nature 322, 359–361 (1986). 7. The OECD Programme on Long Range Transport of Air Pollutants: Measurements and Findings. (OECD, Paris, 1977). 8. Acid Deposition in the United Kingdom (UK Review Group on Acid Rain, Warren Spring Laboratory, Stevenage, 1983). 9. UK Photochemical Oxidants (Review Group Interim Report, Harwell Laboratory, Oxon, 1987).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK

    G. Farmer, R. J. Barthelmie, T. D. Davies & P. M. Kelly

  2. School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK

    P. Brimblecombe

Authors
  1. G. Farmer
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  2. R. J. Barthelmie
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  3. T. D. Davies
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  4. P. Brimblecombe
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  5. P. M. Kelly
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Farmer, G., Barthelmie, R., Davies, T. et al. Relationships between concentration and deposition of nitrate and sulphate in precipitation. Nature 328, 787–789 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/328787a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/328787a0

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