Abstract
Rainwater samples were collected in Irbid city using 24 hour sampling periods from December 1996 to April 1998. All samples were analyzed for major cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+), major anions (Cl−, NO3 − and SO4 2−) and pH. High levels of Ca2+ and SO4 2− were observed. Together, Ca2+ and SO4 2− made up more than 52.4% of the total ion mass, while Ca2+ alone contributed over 39.0% of the total cation. The majority of the rain samples collected had pH values higher than 5.6. The average pH was 6.4±0.9. High values of pH are attributed to the neutralization by natural alkaline local dusts which contain large fractions of calcite. Correlation and mineralogical analyses indicated that Ca2+, K+ and fractions of Na+, SO4 2− and Mg2+ are of crustal origin. Results of the present study suggested that the atmospheric composition in the city is strongly influenced by natural sources rather than anthropogenic.
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Al-Momani, I.F., Momani, K.A. & Jaradat, Q.M. Chemical Composition of Wet Precipitation in Irbid, Jordan. Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry 35, 47–57 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006277122888
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006277122888