Uncertainty in Estimation of Wet Deposition of Sulphur

• Published in: Water, air & soil pollution: Focus Vol. 1; no. 5-6; pp. 341 - 353
• Main Authors: Smith, Rognvald I., Fowler, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.09.2001
• Subjects: ANE, British Isles
• ISSN: 1567-7230; 1573-2940
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1013144231312

A model is described for predicting wet deposition of sulphur in Britain from rainfall and site measurements of ion concentration in precipitation. This model includes orographic enhancement of both rainfall and ion concentration. The model output is compared against available measurement data. Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses are used to predict the output uncertainty. If the stated assumptions can be shown to be correct, the wet deposition for Britain at the 5 km scale is accurate to plus or minus 35% across the country. The analyses show a larger uncertainty in central England and a possible bias towards underestimation of wet deposition, the latter being of importance in calculating critical load exceedances in remote areas.