Acid snowpack chemistry in Pennsylvania, 1979-81

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Water Resour. Bull.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.1983.tb05950.x· OSTI ID:5363880

DeWalle, D R; Sharpe, W E; Izbicki, J A; Wirries, D L

Snowpack chemistry was evaluated with repeated surveys at 30 sampling sites across Pennsylvania during 1979-1981. The mean snowpack pH of 4.25 for 280 samples was largely due to H/sup +/ from nitric acid. Snowpack sulfates were high, especially in the southwest sector of the state, where SO/sub 2/ emissions were also high. Rain-on-snow and coastal storm snowpacks produced higher snowpack pH. Localized increases in snowpack pH were found due to additions of dust from limestone and dolomite quarry operations, especially in the central Ridge and Valley Province. Acid loading on the landscape from snow in Pennsylvania is controlled by the total amount of snowfall as well as variations in concentrations of chemical constituents. 16 references, 7 figures, 5 tables.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park
• OSTI ID: 5363880
• Journal Information: Water Resour. Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resour. Bull.; (United States) Vol. 19:6; ISSN WARBA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATE MINERALS
CARBONATE ROCKS
CARBONATES
CATIONS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DATA
DOLOMITE
DUSTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION III
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INORGANIC ACIDS
IONS
LIMESTONE
MAGNESIUM CARBONATES
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MINERALS
NITRIC ACID
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PENNSYLVANIA
PH VALUE
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
RAIN
ROCKS
SAMPLING
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SNOW
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SURVEYS
USA