REGIONAL-SCALE DEPOSITION OF SULFUR-DIOXIDE BY PRECIPITATION SCAVENGING

Although sulfate ion is usually the predominant sulfur species found in natural precipitation, dissolved sulfur dioxide often appears as an important constituent as well. Despite this importance, however, relatively few measurements of sulfur dioxide in precipitation are available, owing primarily to difficulties involved in the sampling and preservation of this material. This paper describes sampling procedures for obtaining valid measurements of precipitation-borne sulfur dioxide and presents a method for estimating regional wet deposition rates. Trial calculations using this method are compared with observed values for the northeastern United States and these considerations are utilized to project future trends of total sulfur deposition. © 1979.