Origin and composition of Samoan acid precipitation

U. Dayan, D. W. Nelson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

The chemistry of this rain, determined from weekly samples from 1980 to 1983, shows that the annual fluctuations of free acidity are almost negligible. The 3-year pH is 5.3, with no significant yearly trend. Classification using trajectory analyses of storm events that originated from westerly sources and occurred mainly during the March-April austral fall period, have revealed consistently poorer equivalent ion balance. The austral spring period (October-November) is characterized by very steady, strong, easterly trade winds and the ocean is probably the primary source of aerosol. Decreases of acidity are also observed in samples measured first in the field and then in the laboratory, suggesting the existence of another contributor of free protons in Samoan precipitation in addition to the long-range transport of sulfate aerosols. Air masses arriving from westerly sources and associated with precipitation events had almost 25% of their points of origin in the New Guinea area. -from Authors

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)148-153
Number of pages6
JournalTellus, Series B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology
Volume40 B
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1988
Externally publishedYes

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