Acid-precipitation patterns and trends in eastern North America, 1980-1984

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5730935

Seilkop, S K; Finkelstein, P L

Using data compiled from seven nationwide precipitation-chemistry networks in the U.S. and Canada, the spatial distribution of hydrogen, sulfate, and nitrate ions in North America is discussed. Geographic patterns of concentration and deposition are characterized using isopleth maps which are presented and interpreted for the years 1980-1984. The maps were developed using a geostatistical technique known as kriging. This method allows for the estimation of confidence limits on interpolated values. Using these limits, the significance of an observed decrease in the spatial patterns of deposition and concentration is assessed. Decreases of as large as 15 to 20% were observed in sulfate and nitrate concentrations between 1980 and 1983.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA). Atmospheric Sciences Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5730935
• Report Number(s): PB-89-201859/XAB; EPA-600/J-87/478
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
ACIDIFICATION
AIR POLLUTION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
DATA ANALYSIS
DEPOSITION
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN
IONS
KRIGING
MAPS
MATHEMATICS
MONITORING
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RAIN
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
STATISTICS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
VARIATIONS
WATER POLLUTION