Decrease in acid rain over 24-year study at Paradise, Mt.Rainier National Park
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC Ballroom C/D
Start Date
15-5-2014
End Date
15-5-2014
Keywords
Acid, Rain, Environment
Abstract
Weekly wet precipitation samples from Paradise in Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington, were analyzed for major anions and cations, conductivity and pH. Volume weighted 3-month averages were tested for significant trends throughout the 23-year monitoring period starting in 1988 and compared with analogous data collected at established National Atmospheric Deposition Program sites throughout the state. Proton concentrations decreased by a significant amount of 59 percent resulting in a pH increase of wet precipitation from 5.1 to 5.5 (P=0.001). Similar trends were observed for the acidic sulfate and nitrate species. These results indicate that air pollution standards contribute significantly to the decrease in acid rain deposition to this pristine and vulnerable high elevation location, and that trans-Pacific transport of pollution is not detected in the form of acid rain and associated anions.
Recommended Citation
Beebe, Naomi, "Decrease in acid rain over 24-year study at Paradise, Mt.Rainier National Park" (2014). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 7.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2014/posters/7
Poster Number
13
Additional Mentoring Department
Chemistry
Decrease in acid rain over 24-year study at Paradise, Mt.Rainier National Park
SURC Ballroom C/D
Weekly wet precipitation samples from Paradise in Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington, were analyzed for major anions and cations, conductivity and pH. Volume weighted 3-month averages were tested for significant trends throughout the 23-year monitoring period starting in 1988 and compared with analogous data collected at established National Atmospheric Deposition Program sites throughout the state. Proton concentrations decreased by a significant amount of 59 percent resulting in a pH increase of wet precipitation from 5.1 to 5.5 (P=0.001). Similar trends were observed for the acidic sulfate and nitrate species. These results indicate that air pollution standards contribute significantly to the decrease in acid rain deposition to this pristine and vulnerable high elevation location, and that trans-Pacific transport of pollution is not detected in the form of acid rain and associated anions.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Johansen, Anne