Abstract
The properties of stable oxygen isotopes make them useful for studying processes involved in the atmospheric oxidation of sulphur compounds. Experimental work in the 1980s reported that the formation of primary combustion sulphates by high temperature oxidation of SO2(g) to SO4 leads to δ18OSO4 values between +40 and +45‰. This study reports sulphate oxygen isotopic compositions from precipitation events collected at two sites in eastern Newfoundland. Values as high as +41.7‰ were measured in natural precipitation samples collected near a small oil-fired power plant located on the campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John's. These values are higher by 16‰ than any previously reported for precipitation in the literature and in conjunction with other chemical data implicate the power plant as the pollution source. Values from the second site (Seal Cove) were similar to previously reported ranges for precipitation, despite its proximity to a much larger oil-fired, thermal generating station, suggesting that different oxidation mechanisms were dominant there. Oxygen isotopic compositions of precipitation sulphates can be an important complementary tool to other isotopic, trace metal and meteorological analysis in the tracing of sources of atmospheric sulphur compounds.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brimblecombe, P., Hammer, C., Rhode, H., Ryaboshapko, A. and Boutron, C. F.: 1989, in P. Brimblecombe and A. Y. Lein (eds.), Evolution of the Global Biogeochemical Sulphur Cycle, SCOPE 39, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, p. 77.
Calvert, J. G., Su, F., Bottenheim, J. W. and Strausz, O. P.: 1978, Atmospheric Environment 12, p. 197.
Caron, F., Tessier, A., Kramer, J. R., Schwarcz, H. P. and Rees, C. E.: 1986, Applied Geochemistry 1, p. 601.
Chiba, H. and Sakai, H.: 1985, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 49, p. 993.
Clark, A. G. and Williams, P. T.: 1983, Atmospheric Environment 17, p. 607.
Cortecci, G. and Longinelli, A.: 1970, Earth and Planetary Science Letters 8, p. 36.
Cox, R. A. and Penkett, S. A.: 1972, J. Chemical Society Faraday Transactions 68, p. 1735.
Daansgard, W.: 1964, Tellus 16, p. 436.
Drever, J. I.: 1982, The Geochemistry of Natural Waters., Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs.
Eriksson, E.: 1960, Tellus 12, p. 63.
Grey, D. C. and Jensen, M. L.: 1972, Science 177, p. 1099.
Hitchcock, D., Spiller, L. L. and Wilson, W. E.: 1980, Atmospheric Environment 14, p. 165.
Hoefs, J.: 1987, Stable Isotope Geochemistry, 3rd Edition, Springer Verlag, New York, 241 pp.
Holt, B. D. and Kumar, R.: 1984, Atmospheric Environment 18, p. 2089.
Holt, B. D., Cunningham, P. T. and Kumar, R.: 1979, International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry 6, p. 43.
Holt, B. D., Cunningham, P. T. and Kumar, R.: 1981a, Environmental Science and Technology 15, p. 804.
Holt, B. D., Kumar, R. and Cunningham, P. T.: 1981b, Atmospheric Environment 15, p. 557.
Holt, B. D., Kumar, R. and Cunningham, P. T.: 1982, Science 217, p. 51.
Holt, B. D., Cunningham, P. T., Engelkemeir, A., Graczk, D. G. and Kumar, R.: 1983, Atmospheric Environment 17, p. 625.
Holt, B. D., Kumar, R., Cunningham, P. T., Bourchard, M., Engelkemeir, A., Johnson, S. A. and Nielsen, E.: 1978, Environmental Science and Technology 12, p. 1394.
Junge, C. E. and Ryan, T. G.: 1958, Quarterly J. Royal Meteorological Society 84, p. 46.
Keene, W. C., Pszenny, A. A. P., Galloway, J. N. and Hawley, M. E.: 1986, J. Geophysical Research 91(D6), p. 6647.
Kroopnick, P. and Craig, H.: 1972, Science 175, p. 587.
Lloyd, R. M.: 1968, J. Geophysical Research 73, p. 6099.
Longinelli, A. and Bartelloni, M.: 1978, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 10, p. 335.
Martens, C. S., Wesolowski, J. J., Harriss, R. L. and Kaifer, R.: 1973, J. Geophysical Research 78, p. 8778.
McKay, H. A.: 1971, Atmospheric Environment 5, p. 7.
Mizutani, Y. and Rafter, T. A.: 1969, New Zealand Journal of Science 12, p. 61.
Norman, A. L.: 1991, unpublished M.Sc. Thesis, University of Calgary, 162 p.
Nriagu, J. O. and Coker, R. D.: 1978a, Tellus 30, p. 365.
Nriagu, J. O. and Coker, R. D.: 1978b, Nature 274, p. 883.
Nriagu, J. O., Coker, R. D. and Barrie, L. A.: 1991, Nature 349, p. 142.
Ostlund, G.: 1959, Tellus 4, p. 478.
Rafter, T. A.: 1967, New Zealand Journal of Science 10, p. 493.
Saltzman, E. S., Brass, G. W. and Price, D. A.: 1983, Geophysical Research Letters 10, p. 513.
Wadleigh, M. A., Schwarcz, H. P. and Kramer, J. R.: 1994, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 77, p. 1.
Wadleigh, M. A., Schwarcz, H. P. and Kramer, J. R.: 1996, Tellus 48B, p. 44.
Wakshal, E. and Nielsen, H.: 1982, Earth and Planetary Science Letters 61, p. 272.
Welhan, J. A.: 1987, Mineralogical Association of Canada Short Course 13, p. 129.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jamieson, R.E., Wadleigh, M.A. A Study of the Oxygen Isotopic Composition of Precipitation Sulphate in Eastern Newfoundland. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 110, 405–420 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005002026009
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005002026009