Abstract
Annual wet-deposition fluxes of ions in the rains for 1982–1984 at the NADP/NTN sites across the U.S.A. were corrected for contributions from sea salt and anomalous rains (∫cations/∫ anions ratios outside 0.85 to 1.15). The resulting fluxes of normal rains in gram equivalents/ha/yr were used to determine the flux ratios of (NH4 + + H+)/SO4 2− and (Ca2+ + Mgt+ + K+ + Na+)/N03 . The first ratio is 1 ± 0.15 over a large area including most sites west of the Mississippi River, except California. A smaller core of this area has the second ratio equal to 1 ± 0.15. These results are attributed to mineral carbonate aerosol from the Western Plains being distributed by the prevailing westerly winds. This aerosol acts as a sink for NOx and forms mineral nitrates. When the supply of carbonate is limited, free HN03 occurs. The aerosol NH4HSO4 is the main sink for NH3 and SO2. Thus, a major conclusion is that sulfate and nitrate acidities are neutralized independently.
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Wagner, G.H., Steele, K.F. Stoichiometry of rain across the U.S.A.: Evidence of independent neutralization of sulfate and nitrate acidities. Water Air Soil Pollut 39, 179–186 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00250957
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00250957