Acid rain: ionic correlations in the Eastern United States, 1980-1981

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 225; no. 4660; pp. 407 - 409
• Main Authors: Gorham, Eville, Martin, Frank B., Litzau, Jack T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC The American Association for the Advancement of Science 27.07.1984; American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Acid deposition; Acid rain; Acid water pollution; Air pollution; Cations; Chemical bases; Chemical composition and interactions. Ionic interactions and processes; Correlations; Earth, ocean, space; Environmental aspects; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Hydrogen; Ions; Marine; Meteorology; Oxides; Precipitation; Soil pollution; Sulfates; Water acidification; Water pollution; ASW, USA; ANW, USA; Ammonium; Correlation; Rain; Precipitation; United States; Hydrogen; Ions; Acidity; Chemical composition; Nitrates; Sulfates
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.225.4660.407

Hydrogen ions in precipitation are correlated much more closely with sulfate than with nitrate, whereas ammonium ions are correlated more closely with nitrate than with sulfate. Target loadings of 14 to 16 kilograms of wet sulfate deposition per hectare per year, instead of 20 as suggested hitherto, are probably necessary to produce average pH values of 4.6 to 4.7, the approximate boundary levels for damage to aquatic ecosystems. Cluster analysis reveals that there are three linked groups of ions related to air pollution, agriculture, and sea spray.