Since 1988, weekly wet precipitation samples from Paradise in Mt. Rainier National Park, WA, have been analyzed for major anions and cations, conductivity and pH.  Volume weighted 3-month averages were tested for significant trends throughout the 23-year monitoring period and compared with analogous data collected at established National Atmospheric Deposition Program sites throughout the state.  Over the last 23 years, (i) sulfate concentrations decreased by 51%, (ii) nitrate concentrations decreased by 55%, (iii) proton concentrations decreased by 59%, and (iv) pH increased from 5.1 to 5.5 (P=0.001).  These results indicate that air pollution standards contribute significantly to the decrease in acid rain deposition to this pristine and vulnerable high elevation location, and that no apparent trans-Pacific transport of pollution is detected from Asia.

23 Years of decreased sulfate and nitrate concentrations in wet precipitation at Paradise, Mt. Rainier National Park

243rd National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.