SCAVENGING RATIOS AND DEPOSITION OF SULFUR, NITROGEN AND CHLORINE SPECIES IN EASTERN ENGLAND

Measurements of wet deposited NH4+, SO42-, NO3- and Cl-, as well as airbone concentrations of these species and gaseous HNO3, HCl and NH3, have been made at a site in eastern England. Scavenging ratios based solely upon aerosol-associated species and upon aerosol plus gaseous airborne species are presented and compared with literature values. It appears that HCl and HNO3 have only a rather minor influence upon wet deposition at our site. Gaseous NH3 influences ground-level air chemistry appreciably, but scavenging ratios for NH4+ are low, even when based upon aerosol NH4+ concentrations alone, presumably due to altitudinal gradients in this species. The problems inherent in interpretation of scavenging ratios are discussed. Deposition of nitrogen in various chemical forms is estimated from rainwater and air composition. If a transport-limited deposition velocity is assumed for ammonia gas, dry deposition of this species accounts for around 40% of total nitrogen deposition to the ground.