Nature and extent of acid snowpacks in Pennsylvania

Technical Report · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5943070

Dewalle, D R; Sharpe, W E; Izbicki, J; 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..mu.. from nitric acid. Snowpack sulfates were high, especially in the SW sector of the state where SO/sub 2/ emissions were also high, but did not originate only from sulfuric acid. 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. Lead concentrations in snow packs occasionally exceeded maximum contaminant levels prescribed for drinking water. 13 references, 7 figures, 5 tables.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5943070
• Report Number(s): PB-83-206276; OWRT-A-054-PA(1)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CARBONATE ROCKS
CATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DUSTS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION III
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN IONS
HYDROGEN IONS 1 PLUS
INORGANIC ACIDS
IONS
LEAD
LIMESTONE
METALS
NITRIC ACID
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PENNSYLVANIA
PH VALUE
POLLUTION SOURCES
RAIN
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SNOW
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
USA
VARIATIONS