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The effect of a local source on the composition of precipitation in south-central Maine

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Abstract

Bulk precipitation samples were collected from ten sites in south-central Maine during the period 18 June to 30 September, 1974. Data from the chemical analyses of the precipitation were used to determine regional deposition patterns of the ionic constituents. Acidic pH values ranging from 3.8 to 5.0 are characteristic of the region, but relatively alkaline pH values of 5.5 to 7.0 were observed in the precipitation from one collection site. Systematic increases in sulphate and Na deposition in the samples from this site suggest a local source.

The observations of the bulk precipitation analysis lead to a study of the chemical composition of precipitation near a kraft paper mill. Samples were collected during single precipitation events. The results indicate that this source can affect background levels of composition up to a distance of at least 20 km and that considerable care must be taken in the selection of sites for sampling background precipitation.

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Author notes

  1. Scott D. Boyce

    Present address: Department of Chemistry, Dartmouth College, 03755, Hanover, N.H., U.S.A.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bowdoin College, 04011, Brunswick, Maine, U.S.A.

    Scott D. Boyce & Samuel S. Butchert

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  1. Scott D. Boyce
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  2. Samuel S. Butchert
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Boyce, S.D., Butchert, S.S. The effect of a local source on the composition of precipitation in south-central Maine. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 6, 375–384 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00182878

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00182878

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