Document: VIC-3-60-3

Aerosol concentration trends compared to regional and local emissions at a rural site in southeastern New York, USA.

KELLY, V.R.*, G.M.LOVETT and K.C.WEATHERS

Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, USA, 12545 ¹

Abstract:
Regional and national trends show declines in sulfur, nitrogen and base cation emissions and deposition in eastern North America. However, emissions from some power plants in eastern NY State have increased in the last few years. Using methods similar to procedures used by the E.P.A. CASTNet program, we examined long-term trends in concentrations of some gaseous and aerosol species at a site in southeastern New York. We compared these trends to local and regional emissions. Concentrations of gaseous SO₂ and HNO₃ and particulate H⁺, SO₄^-2, NH₄⁺, Ca⁺² and Mg⁺² decreased during the 10-year period from 1988 to 1998. No change was observed during this period in particulate K⁺, Na⁺ , Cl^- or total particulate matter < 2 _{MISSING CHARACTER ENTITY: mu}m diameter. Ozone concentrations were high in 1988 and did not vary substantially from 1989-1998. Most constituent concentrations were higher during summer than winter, indicating that the deposition of these constituents to forests will be higher during the growing season partly because of higher leaf surface area, but also because of higher atmospheric concentrations.

Keywords: aerosols, emissions, nitrogen, sulfur, deposition

This abstract is being presented at: 3:30 PM in session:
Poster Session #15: Nutrient Cycling.