Improved estimates of sulfate dry deposition in Eastern North America

Journal Article · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1984 · Environ. Prog.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.670030205· OSTI ID:6813607

Wesely, M L; Shannon, J D

Recent eddy-correlation measurements of the dry deposition of particulate sulfate indicate that the associated deposition velocities have a strong diurnal trend and are small in near-neutral and stable atmospheric conditions. Daily averages of the deposition velocity in the summertime over Eastern North America are near 0.25 cm s/sup -1/, nearly half of the initial estimates. However, the corresponding change in monthly total deposition of sulfur (wet plus dry) computed with a regional-scale air pollution model is quite small, within 5%, as a result of the compensation by increased wet deposition of particulate sulfur. The major effect of the lower deposition velocities is that computed airborne sulfate concentrations increase substantially, from 30% near source regions to 100% in remote areas. Sulfur dioxide dominates the dry deposition of sulfur except in remote areas. Near major source regions, SO/sub 2/ is 4-5 times greater than the sulfate dry deposition, as a result of the high concentrations of SO/sub 2/ coupled with rather large deposition velocities. Even greater differences are found in the winter.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL
• OSTI ID: 6813607
• Journal Information: Environ. Prog.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Prog.; (United States) Vol. 3:2; ISSN ENVPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
CHALCOGENIDES
DEPOSITION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
VARIATIONS
VELOCITY