Chemical characteristics of precipitation at Nanping Mangdang Mountainin eastern China during spring
Yanli Cheng , Ying Liu , Mingqun Huo , Qian Sun , Huixiang Wang , Zhongming Chen , Yuhua Bai
DOI:
Received August 25, 2010,Revised May 10, 2011, Accepted , Available online
Volume 23,2011,Pages 1350-1358
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To study the characteristics of precipitation in eastern China, an automatic sampler was used to collect rainwater samples from 19
precipitation events at Mangdang Mountain, Nanping City, Fujiang Province, in the spring of 2009. We used ion chromatography to
analyze the ionic components and concentrations, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to analyze element
compositions and contents. The results demonstrated remarkable acidic characteristics: in more than 80% of precipitation events the
pH was less than 5.6, with an average of 4.81. Mass concentration results showed SO4
2?? was the main anionic component (36.2%
of the total anion mass), while NH4
+ was the main cationic component (47.7% of the total cation mass) and main ion for acidity
neutralization in the rainwater. Organic acid content accounted for 30.9% of total anion mass. The main trace metals were Ca, K, and
Na. The SO4
2??/NO3?? ratio was 1.4, indicating that precipitation in this region was influenced by complex air pollution – the product of
individual coal-burning combined with vehicle exhaust pollution. Correlation analysis of the chemical composition of the precipitation
indicated that acidity in this region was determined by a combination of all acidic and neutralization ions rather than any single ion
component. The results also showed that Na+ and Cl?? contributions were mainly by seawater; Mg2+ by seawater and crustal materials;
the NH4
+, K+, Ca2+, NO3?? and SO4
2?? by anthropogenic sources; the trace metals were from the Earth’s crust; and organic acids were
potentially from combustion of biomass.
