Strong similarities in seasonal concentration ratios of SO42−, NO3− and NH4+ in precipitation between Sweden and the northeastern US

LARS O. HEDIN; LENNART GRANAT; GENE E. LIKENS; HENNING RODHE

doi:10.1034/j.1600-0889.1990.t01-4-00005.x

Strong similarities in seasonal concentration ratios of SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ in precipitation between Sweden and the northeastern US

LARS O. HEDIN, LENNART GRANAT, GENE E. LIKENS, HENNING RODHE

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We analyzed 21‐year long records of precipitation chemistry from central Scandinavia and the north‐eastern US to compare seasonal variations of three major pollutant ions, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺. Seasonal variations in concentrations of the individual ions were distinctly different between the two regions. However, despite these differences, we found strong and unexpected similarities between the two regions in seasonal variations of the concentration ratios NO₃⁻/SO₄²⁻, NH₄⁺/NO₃^– and NH₄⁺/SO₄²⁻. A preliminary analysis suggests that these similarities are due to similarities between the two regions in chemical transformation and removal processes affecting SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻ in the atmosphere, and to a coupling between NH₄⁺ and SO₄²⁻ aerosol in long‐range transport. Ion ratios appear to be less sensitive to seasonal variations in SO₂ and NO_x emissions compared to individual ion concentrations.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	454-462
Number of pages	9
Journal	Tellus B
Volume	42
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0889.1990.t01-4-00005.x
State	Published - Nov 1990
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Atmospheric Science

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10.1034/j.1600-0889.1990.t01-4-00005.x

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title = "Strong similarities in seasonal concentration ratios of SO42−, NO3− and NH4+ in precipitation between Sweden and the northeastern US",

abstract = "We analyzed 21‐year long records of precipitation chemistry from central Scandinavia and the north‐eastern US to compare seasonal variations of three major pollutant ions, SO42−, NO3− and NH4+. Seasonal variations in concentrations of the individual ions were distinctly different between the two regions. However, despite these differences, we found strong and unexpected similarities between the two regions in seasonal variations of the concentration ratios NO3−/SO42−, NH4+/NO3– and NH4+/SO42−. A preliminary analysis suggests that these similarities are due to similarities between the two regions in chemical transformation and removal processes affecting SO42− and NO3− in the atmosphere, and to a coupling between NH4+ and SO42− aerosol in long‐range transport. Ion ratios appear to be less sensitive to seasonal variations in SO2 and NOx emissions compared to individual ion concentrations.",

author = "HEDIN, {LARS O.} and LENNART GRANAT and LIKENS, {GENE E.} and HENNING RODHE",

year = "1990",

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doi = "10.1034/j.1600-0889.1990.t01-4-00005.x",

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journal = "Tellus B",

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AU - HEDIN, LARS O.

AU - GRANAT, LENNART

AU - LIKENS, GENE E.

AU - RODHE, HENNING

PY - 1990/11

Y1 - 1990/11

N2 - We analyzed 21‐year long records of precipitation chemistry from central Scandinavia and the north‐eastern US to compare seasonal variations of three major pollutant ions, SO42−, NO3− and NH4+. Seasonal variations in concentrations of the individual ions were distinctly different between the two regions. However, despite these differences, we found strong and unexpected similarities between the two regions in seasonal variations of the concentration ratios NO3−/SO42−, NH4+/NO3– and NH4+/SO42−. A preliminary analysis suggests that these similarities are due to similarities between the two regions in chemical transformation and removal processes affecting SO42− and NO3− in the atmosphere, and to a coupling between NH4+ and SO42− aerosol in long‐range transport. Ion ratios appear to be less sensitive to seasonal variations in SO2 and NOx emissions compared to individual ion concentrations.

AB - We analyzed 21‐year long records of precipitation chemistry from central Scandinavia and the north‐eastern US to compare seasonal variations of three major pollutant ions, SO42−, NO3− and NH4+. Seasonal variations in concentrations of the individual ions were distinctly different between the two regions. However, despite these differences, we found strong and unexpected similarities between the two regions in seasonal variations of the concentration ratios NO3−/SO42−, NH4+/NO3– and NH4+/SO42−. A preliminary analysis suggests that these similarities are due to similarities between the two regions in chemical transformation and removal processes affecting SO42− and NO3− in the atmosphere, and to a coupling between NH4+ and SO42− aerosol in long‐range transport. Ion ratios appear to be less sensitive to seasonal variations in SO2 and NOx emissions compared to individual ion concentrations.

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Strong similarities in seasonal concentration ratios of SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ in precipitation between Sweden and the northeastern US

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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