Effects of airborne particulate matter on the acidity of precipitation in central Missouri
The pH of rainfall in central Missouri was monitored at four sites during the fall of 1983. Several pH values were well above 5.6, the theoretical pH of pure water in equilibrium with ambient levels of CO/sub 2/. Most of the higher pH's were measured on rainfall of short duration or rainfall collected during the first few hours of extended rainfall events. Furthermore, the rainfall associated with storm events lasting several days exhibited a trend of decreasing pH with time approaching values as low as 4.0 during the late stages of rainfall. Precipitation pH values above 5.6 apparently reflect neutralization reactions between wet precipitation and various components of airborne dust, especially clays and carbonates. During extended rainfalls, the neutralization effects gradually diminish as suspended dust is washed from the atmosphere yielding more accurate values of the wet precipitation pH. The results of this study suggest that airborne particulate matter generated from the dust bowl region of the US may affect the chemistry of precipitation in areas hundreds of kilometers downwind. Using date available in the literature, a direct relationship between precipitation pH and accumulated dustfall was found for data taken along a transect which represents the path of major storms crossing the US, i.e., from the south-central to northeastern regions.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6605971
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8510489-
- Journal Information:
- Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States), Vol. 17; Conference: 98. annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, Orlando, FL, USA, 28 Oct 1985
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Atmospheric deposition to forests
NNSS Soils Monitoring: Plutonium Valley (CAU 366) FY2019
Related Subjects
MISSOURI
ACID RAIN
PARTICULATES
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
WASHOUT
PH VALUE
RAIN WATER
AIR POLLUTION
STORMS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHEMISTRY
DISASTERS
FEDERAL REGION VII
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
POLLUTION
PRECIPITATION SCAVENGING
RAIN
SEPARATION PROCESSES
USA
WATER
WATER CHEMISTRY
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)