Neutralization of nitrate and sulphate in precipitation on the eastern Mediterranean coast of Spain. Implications for acidification risk

The results of two years of sampling in a network of 27 rainfall stations in the Valencian Community (Spain), show that most of the rain collected in the region, has a neutral or alkaline character, with a high mean concentration of calcium and sulphate in some df them. The network station distribution covers a range of distances from the sea, altitude, soil use and human activities (industrial, urban, agricultural). No correlation has been found between H(+) and strong acidic anions (non marine sulphate and nitrate). Sulphate showed a high correlation with calcium. The spatial distribution of non marine sulphate, the ratio of marine sulphate to total sulphate, nitrate, calcium concentration and pH, showed that different concentrations of species are more related with geographical and meteorological characteristics than with proximity to industrial sources. The received amount of calcium and their neutralizing effect is used to predict the soil acidification risk in the area.