Source-receptor relationships for acid deposition: pure and simple. A critical review

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00022470.1984.10465770· OSTI ID:6503427

Hidy, G M

The status of technology for determining the contribution of source emissions to the deposition of acidifying substances at receptors in eastern North America is discussed. Two basic approaches are available for source apportionment. These involve: the interpretation of direct measurement, or the application of theoretically based models accounting for material balance of the acidifiers. The use of direct measurements requires at a minimum either detailed spatial observations or long term historical data taken at sites located in different areas. Analysis of observations to date gives qualitative information about deposition patterns in relation to source regions for sulfur and nitrogen oxides. The analysis of data is enhanced with application of empirical models. Quantitative source apportionment is not possible solely from the measurements; a verified theoretically based model is needed to complete this type of assessment. The current technology of modeling permits estimation of source contribution with unknown reliability. The models themselves are highly parameterized with semiempirical considerations. When the parameters are adjusted to measurements, models yield sometimes acceptable simulations of ambient concentration and deposition distributions of sulfate and nitrate given geographically distributed emissions estimates. Even with models now available, improved quantification of source-receptor relationships will require considerable investment in new field experiments, possibly involving passive and reactive atmospheric tracers of emissions. 81 references.

• Research Organization: Environmental Research and Tech., Inc., Newbury Park, CA
• OSTI ID: 6503427
• Journal Information: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 34:5; ISSN JPCAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHALCOGENIDES
DATA ANALYSIS
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEASURING METHODS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
RAIN
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
VARIATIONS