Acid precipitation and sulfate deposition in Florida

Journal Article · Fri May 30 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · Science; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.208.4447.1027· OSTI ID:5239559

Brezonik, P L; Edgerton, E S; Hendry, C D

The acidity of rainfall in Florida has increased markedly in the past 25 years, and the average sulfate and nitrate concentrations have increased by factors of 1.6 and 4.5, respectively, over the period. Annual average pH values below 4.7 now occur over the northern three quarters of the state. Summer rainfall has average pH values 0.2 to 0.3 unit lower than winter rainfall, and sulfate concentrations at most sites are higher in summer. The annual deposition of H+ (about 300 to 500 equivalents per hectare) in northern Florida is a third to a half of the deposition in the heavily impacted northeastern United States; comparable figures for excess sulfate (derived from sulfur dioxide) are 7 to 11 kilograms of sulfur per hectare or 50 to 90 percent of the sulfate deposition rates at Hubbard Brook, New Hampshire.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Florida, Gainesville
• OSTI ID: 5239559
• Journal Information: Science; (United States), Journal Name: Science; (United States) Vol. 208; ISSN SCIEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
FLORIDA
MONITORING
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH ATLANTIC REGION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
POLLUTION
RAIN
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SOUTHEAST REGION
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
USA
VARIATIONS
WATER POLLUTION