Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chemical composition of precipitation at Long Island, NY

  • Published:
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Chemical analyses were performed on 387 sequential precipitation samples, both rain and snow, collected at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Long Island, New York, on 96 different days during the period from October 1983 to June 1985. The collection time for each individual sample was typically 30 min. The chemical species determined and the volume-weighted average and maximum concentrations (in parentheses) in units of μM were: H202:7(120), H2CO:6(60), H+:51(500), N03 −:30(350), S04 2−:25(270), NH4 +:18(250), Ca2+:3(48), Na+:32(400), and Cl−:37(380). A strong seasonal dependence was observed for H202 concentration, the maximum concentration in summer (120 μM) being 6 times greater than in winter. In addition, H202 concentration also exhibited a strong diurnal variation, with a maximum peaking in the afternoon and a minimum after midnight. These observations suggest that the production of H202 may be governed by photochemical activity. Nitrate concentration also displayed a strong diurnal variation, having a maximum around noon, but did not show a seasonal dependence. Relationships between various species and their possible sources are briefly discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bufalini, J.J., Lancaster, H.T., Namie, G.R., and Gay, B.W., Jr., J. Environ. Sci. Health, A14, 135. Calvert, J.G., ed., 1984, SO 2 and N0 2 oxidation mechanisms: Atmospheric considerations, Butterworth, Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvert, J.G. and Stockwell, W.R., 1983, Environ. Sci.Technol. 17, 428A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaffney, J.S. and Senum, G.I., 1984, Peroxides, peracids, aldehydes and PANs and their links to natural and anthropogenic organic sources, in Proceedings of the Conference on Gas-Liquid Chemistry of Natural Waters, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, April, Paper No. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glass, N.R., Arnold, D.E., Galloway, J.N., Hendrey, G.R., Lee, J.J., McFee, W.W., Norton, S.A., Powers, C.F., Rambo, D.L., and Schofield, C.L., 1982, Environ. Sci. Technol., 16, 162A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guilbault, G.G., Brignac, P., and Juneau, M., 1968, Anal. Chem., 40, 1256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanst, P.L. and Gay, B. Jr., 1983, Atmos. Environ., 17, 2259.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann, M.R. and Edwards, J.O., 1975, J. Phys. Chem., 79, 2096.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heikes, B.G., Lazrus, A.L., and Kok, G.L., 1985, Measurements of H202 in the lower troposphere, presented at the 17th International Symposium on Free Radicals, Granby, Colorado, August 18–23, 1985.

  • Kelly, T.J., Daum, P.H., and Schwartz, S.E., 1985, J. Geophys. Res. 90, 7861.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleinman, L.I., 1984, Atmospheric formation of gas phase H202 and other oxidants in the eastern U.S., Report BNL-33367, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuntz, R. Lonneman, W., Namie, G., and Hull, L.A., 1980, Anal. Letts. 13, 1409.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazrus, L.L., Kok, G.L., Gitlin, S.N., and Lind, J.A., 1985, Anal. Chem., 57, 917.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lebowitz, L.G., and de Pena, R.G., 1985, J. Geophys. Res., 90, 8149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, L.R. and Damschen, D.E., 1981, Atmos. Environ., 15, 1615.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council, 1983, Acid deposition: Atmospheric processes in Eastern Northern America, Environmental Studies Board, National Academy Press, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Academy of Sciences, 1976, Vapor-Phase Organic Pollutants, Committee on Medical and Biological Effects of Environmental Pollutants, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Penkett, S.A., Jones, B.M.R., Brice, K.A., and Eggleton, A.E.J., 1979, Atmos. Environ., 13, 123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raynor, G.S. and Hayes, J.V., 1983, Differential rain and snow scavenging efficiency implied by ionic concentration differences in winter precipitation. In Precipitation, Scavenging, Dry Deposition, and Resuspension, Pruppacher, H.R., Semonin, R.G., and Slinn, W.G.N., eds. Elsevier, New York, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raynor, G.S. and Hayes, J.V., 1984, The sequential precipitation chemistry sampling program at Brookhaven National Laboratory with an analytical summary of 1976–1982 data. Brookhaven National Laboratory report, No. 51819.

  • Richards, L.W., 1983, Atmos. Environ.,17, 397.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanner, R.I., and Meng, Z., 1984, Environ. Sci. Technol., 18, 723.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Chemistry Division Department of Applied Science, Brookhaven National Laboratory, 11973, Upton, NY, U.S.A.

    Yin-Nan Lee, Ji Shen & Paul J. Klotz

Authors
  1. Yin-Nan Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ji Shen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Paul J. Klotz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Visiting Scientist from the Institute of Environmental Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Beijing, China

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lee, YN., Shen, J. & Klotz, P.J. Chemical composition of precipitation at Long Island, NY. Water Air Soil Pollut 30, 143–152 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305183

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305183

Keywords

Search

Navigation