Title

Acid-Rain At Kennedy-Space-Center, Florida - Recent Observations

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Atmos. Environ.

Keywords

Environmental Sciences; Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences

Abstract

During the period July, 1977 to September, 1979, rainfall was collected in the vicinity of the Kennedy Space Center, Florida and subjected to appropriate chemical analysis for purposes of characterization of general composition and acidity. Results obtained form the basis for future comparisons, should significant alteration of the chemical composition of rain occur during the space shuttle era. Acidity extremes calculated on a monthly basis from event samples collected from five sites within a 200 km2 area varied from pH 5.1 in November, 1977 and April, 1978 to pH 4.3 in July, 1978 and July, 1979. Weighted average pH for the entire period was 4.55. Acidity was due to the presence of sulfuric and nitric acids. The mole ratio of excess SO4−2:NO3− was typically greater than one. Monthly weighted average Cl− concentrations ranged from 20–240 micromoles/liter. The Cl− :Na+ ratio was slightly lower than that present in sea water. The sample collection network was expanded during 16 months of the study to include 13 sites situated within a 600km2 area. Monthly weighted average acidity and concentrations of other ions present in rain, based on samples collected from the five site network, agreed closely with corresponding concentrations determined from samples collected in the entire 13 site network.

Journal Title

Atmospheric Environment

Volume

15

Issue/Number

5

Publication Date

1-1-1981

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

853

Last Page

862

WOS Identifier

WOS:A1981LR50000022

ISSN

1352-2310

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