A comparison of urban and suburban precipitation chemistry (original) (raw)

Urban dust and central Ohio precipitation

Herein we examine the solubility of dust collected during a long-term study of the stable isotopic composition of precipitation in Columbus, Ohio, the 15 th largest city in the United States. Samples were collected in a stationary, open, exposed rain collector so that between rain events dry deposition was obtained. Rain and snow samples collected during 2014-2016were analyzed for Ca 2+ and anions (Cl-and SO 4 2-) by ion chromatography. Chloride concentrations are low, ranging from >1 μM L-1 to 26 μM L-1 , and are uncorrelated to Ca 2+. Soluble, sea salt-corrected Ca 2+ concentrations ranged from 6 to 124 μM L-1. Our results are compared to a longer term dataset (1999-2015) from the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) of wet deposition samples collected 50 km southwest of Columbus. Mean sea salt-corrected Ca 2+ concentration in our samples was 26 μM L-1. Mean sea salt-corrected Ca 2+ concentrations in NADP samples was significantly lower (p=0.0001), at 5.6 μM L-1 with ...

Intra-urban precipitation quality: Hamilton, Canada

Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 1988

Intra-urban variability of H + (as measured by pH) along with S, halogens and heavy metals are studied in bulk precipitation from a network of 11 collectors located in the city of Hamilton, Canada. Bulk precipitation is shown a useful indicator of both elemental intra-urban variability and sources. Precipitation acidity is an order of magnitude less within urban areas than of that measured outside the city. Bulk depositional characteristics are classified into three distinct patterns as influenced by industrial emissions (Cu, C1, Fe, Mn, and V), urban sediments (Ca and Mg), and automobile emissions (Br and Pb). A substantial component of S and Zn loadings are attributed to anthropogenic sources from outside the city while a substantial component of A1, I, and Na loadings are attributed to natural sources.

Contribution of Precipitation to Quality of Urban Storm Runoff

Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 1984

Precipitation and runoff samples were collected for 13 storms in a nonindustrial urban area in Central Pennsylvania between July 1980 and June 1981. Runoff was collected from tree surfaces, a residential roof and street, a shopping mall parking lot, a downtown business district alley, and a heavily traveled street. Analysis of the water samples showed 10 to 25 percent of the nitrogen, 25 percent of the sulfate, and less than 5 percent of the phosphorus, potassium, and calcium in water below a tree was deposited by the precipitation. The residential roof caused insignificant changes in water chemistry. The results for the four paved areas showed that all the nitrogen, and from 16 to 40 percent of the sulfate and 13, 4, and 2 percent of the phosphorus, potassium, and calcium, respectively, in runoff was deposited by the precipitation. Precipitation can also be an important source of sulfate and phosphorus in runoff. AU of the surfaces raised the pH of the runoff, with the largest increases, from a pH of 4 to about 7, occurring in runoff from the paved areas. Precipitation and runoff chemistry was not related to antecedent conditions such as the length of the preceding dry period. (KEY TERMS: water quality; atmospheric deposition; wet deposition; storm water loads; antecedent conditions.)

Geochemical investigations on atmospheric precipitation in a medium-sized city (G�ttingen, F.R.G.)

Water Air Soil Pollut, 1975

The concentration of 27 elements was investigated in 10 samples of precipitation from G6ttingen, collected during May and September 1972. G6ttingen is a non-industrial town of 130000 inhabitants, situated in a rural area, and essentially all the dissolved and undissolved material in rainwater is locally derived. Elemental concentrations in freshwater and shale are used for comparison 'with the dissolved elements in precipitation and the undissolved residue. The two phases have been separated after evaporation (concentration factors: 15 to 25-times). Phosphorous, Zn, Mn, and Pb are enriched in rainwater, while Si, Mg, Na, Ca, CI, Fe, Hg, K, Li, and AI are depleted relative to average freshwater. Sulfate, Cd, and Cu have similar concentrations in rain and freshwater. The factors of accumulation between elements in residue and average shale are calculated after normalization to the Al-value. They are:

Air Masses and Weather Types: A Useful Tool for Characterizing Precipitation Chemistry and Wet Deposition

Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 2012

This study is an analysis of 344 days with rainfall recorded during five years in a remote regional background EMEP (Cooperative Programme for the Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long Range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe) station in Spain. The chemical composition of the rainwater associated with air masses (nine categories) and weather types (26 categories) was characterized. The chemical composition of rainwater was dominated by calcium (Ca 2+) and sulphate (SO 4 2−-S), with VWM (Volume Weighted Mean) during the period studied (2002-2006), with 55 μeq/L and 34 μeqS/L, respectively. Calcium, sodium (Na +), ammonium (NH 4 +-N) and magnesium (Mg 2+) seem to be dominant components in the neutralization of the rainwater. By applying Pearson correlations, principal component analysis and enrichment factors, it is possible to identify source types for the precipitation constituents. Interannual and intra-annual variability was also been studied. High calcium levels are associated with the frequent intrusions of Saharan dust that occur during the summer, and the maximums of chlorine and sodium in the winter may be due to the greater amount of maritime air recorded during this season. Wet deposition was determined by focusing on nitrogen deposition, registering mean annual values of 155 mgN/m 2 /year (from the NO 3 −-N) and 165 mgN/m 2 /year (from the NH 4 +-N).

Chemical differences between event and weekly precipitation samples in northeastern Illinois

1985

We examine the chemical differences between event and weekly samples of precipitation collected in northeastern Illinois from April 1980 to March 1982. Analyses were conducted for H', Ca'*, Mg"-. NHf, SO:and NO; concentrations as well as for pH and conductivity. In addition, the 1980-1981 samples. were titrated to determine the total, strong and weak acid concentrations. Although seasonal and annual precipitation amounts were different for the two years, the general pattern ofevent and weekly sample ion concentrations were similar, Weekly samples had significantly less [NH; ] and higher laboratory pH in all seasons and more [SO:-J in every season but summer. Weekly samples had significantly more [Ca'-] and [Mg'+] during seasons with little precipitation. Event and weekly [NO;]

Atmospheric deposition of carbon and nutrients across an and metropolitan area

Science of the Total Environment, 2008

Urbanization is increasing rapidly in semi-arid environments and is predicted to alter atmospheric deposition of nutrients and pollutants to cities as well as to ecosystems downwind. We examined patterns of wet and coarse dry deposition chemistry over a fiveyear period at 7 sites across the Central Arizona-Phoenix (CAP) study area, one of two urban sites within the National Science Foundation's Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program. Wet and dry deposition of organic carbon (oC) were significantly elevated in the urban core; in contrast, mean annual wet and dry fluxes of nitrogen (N) were low (b6 kg ha − 1 yr − 1) compared to previous estimates and did not differ significantly among sites. Wet deposition of sulfate (SO 4 2−) was high across CAP (mean 1.39 kg ha − 1 yr − 1 as S) and represented the dominant anion in rainfall. Dry deposition rates did not show strong seasonal trends with the exception of oC, which was 3-fold higher in winter than in summer; ammonium (NH 4 +) deposition was high but more variable. Dry deposition of NO 3 − and oC was strongly correlated with particulate base cations and dust-derived soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), suggesting that urban-derived dust is scrubbing the atmosphere of acidic gases and entrained particles and increasing local deposition. Differences between measured and predicted rates of dry N deposition to the urban core may be explained by incomplete collection of gas phase N on surrogate deposition surfaces in this hot and arid environment. The extent of urban enhancement of cations and oC inputs to desert ecosystems appears to be restricted to the urbanized metropolitan area rather than extending far downwind, although a low number of sites make it difficult to resolve this spatial pattern. Nevertheless, wet and dry inputs may be important for biogeochemical cycles in nutrient and carbon-poor desert ecosystems within and near arid cities.

Geochemical investigations on atmospheric precipitation in a medium-sized city (Göttingen, F.R.G

Water Air and Soil Pollution, 1975

The concentration of 27 elements was investigated in 10 samples of precipitation from Göttingen, collected during May and September 1972. Göttingen is a non-industrial town of 130000 inhabitants, situated in a rural area, and essentially all the dissolved and undissolved material in rainwater is locally derived. Elemental concentrations in freshwater and shale are used for comparison with the dissolved elements in precipitation and the undissolved residue. The two phases have been separated after evaporation (concentration factors: 15 to 25-times). Phosphorous, Zn, Mn, and Pb are enriched in rainwater, while Si, Mg, Na, Ca, Cl, Fe, Hg, K, Li, and Al are depleted relative to average freshwater. Sulfate, Cd, and Cu have similar concentrations in rain and freshwater. The factors of accumulation between elements in residue and average shale are calculated after normalization to the Al-value. They are: ⩾ 100 for Ag, Hg, Pb; between 10 and 20 for Zn, Cd, P, Cu, Mo; > 2 for Cr, Bi, Ni, Ba, Ti, V ; between 0.9 and 2.0 for Rb, K, Na, Li, Mg, Mn, Fe, Si, Ca; and 0.5 for Tl. The trace element accumulation is due to different anthropogenic sources: combustion of liquid petroleum fuels contributes to Ph, V, Ni, Mo, Hg, and sulfate, combustion of coal to Ba, sulfate, and chloride, and to the. readily volatile elements such as Hg, Cd, Tl, Bi, and Ag, combustion of refuse to Ag, Bi, Pb, Cd, Hg, Zn, Cr, Cu, Ba, and Mo in highly variable amounts. Fertilizers and road salts change the chemistry of soils and indirectly supply P, alkali and alkaline-earth metals to the fly dust. Modest industrial activity is responsible for high Cu and Cr concentrations. Despite the appreciable accumulation of some toxic elements, the precipitation in Göttingen is relatively pure compared to other areas. Favorable geologic conditions around Göttingen decrease the negative influences of potentially harmful airborne elements. The high carbonate content in the dust neutralizes the anthropogenic acids in the rainwater. Furthermore, the toxic trace elements are diluted, especially in the center of Göttingen, by a large amount of airborne dust.

Urban Thermal Influence on the Background Environment of Convective Precipitation

Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan. Ser. II, 2018

tation. However, additional factors besides the urban environment have prevented the clear determination of the influence of the urban setting on precipitation. For example, Shepherd et al. (2002) used satellite data for Atlanta, Georgia, USA to examine the influence of this urban area on precipitation. Commenting on the results reported by Shepherd et al. (2002), Diem et al. (2004) suggested that the precipitation in Atlanta is probably influenced by the 150 m.a.s.l. mountains that are located 110 km from the city. Some cities in Japan are located in areas with terrain that is more complex than Atlanta; therefore, the urban and topographical effects on precipitation must Urban Thermal Influence on the Background Environment