Na+/Cr- ratios in rain across the USA, 1982–1986

George H. Wagner; Kenneth F. Steele

doi:10.3402/tellusb.v41i4.15099

Na+/Cr- ratios in rain across the USA, 1982–1986

Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology

Volume 41 (1989): Issue 4

By: George H. Wagner and Kenneth F. Steele

Open Access

|Jan 1989

Abstract

Ratios of Na⁺/Cl^- for annual rain collections for 178 sites in the NADP/NTN network across the USA were compared to the same ratio for sea water. 48% of the sites had ratios which were, within experimental error, the same as sea water. 32% of the sites, all in western states, had Na⁺/Cl^- ratios greater than sea water. These higher ratios are attributed to Na⁺ from feldspar and clay aerosols. The remainder (20%) of the sites, with ratios less than sea water are mostly in a contiguous area composed of lower Michigan, lower Wisconsin, eastern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, northern Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts. This area coincides with the areas of highest SO^2-₄ and NO^-₃ concentrations in rain and is believed to receive imputs of Cl^- from coal-fired power plants.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v41i4.15099 | Journal eISSN: 1600-0889

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Language: English

Page range: 444 - 451

Submitted on: Sep 25, 1987

Accepted on: Aug 9, 1988

Published on: Jan 1, 1989

Published by: Stockholm University Press

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

© 1989 George H. Wagner, Kenneth F. Steele, published by Stockholm University Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 41 (1989): Issue 4