Wet deposition of major ions and trace elements in the eastern Mediterranean basin

Elemental and ionic composition of the eastern Mediterranean precipitation was determined on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey between January 1992 and January 1994. Measured concentrations were comparable with the concentrations reported from other rural stations. Concentrations of elements and ions show strong short-term and well-defined long-term variations. Short-term variations are due to transport from different source areas whereas longterm (seasonal) variations are governed by the seasonal changes in the wet removal of particles during their transport from source areas to the eastern Mediterranean region. The most important characteristic of the precipitation in the eastern Mediterranean region is the extensive neutralization of acidity by the airborne CaCO3 particles from soil. Wet deposition fluxes of elements and ions are smaller than the fluxes reported from other rural stations owing to small annual rainfall in the region. Except for soil-related elements, wet deposition fluxes of all elements are significantly higher in the winter season. Annual wet deposition fluxes are highly episodic, with only 10-20 of the samples accounting more than 50% of annual fluxes for most of the measured elements and ions.