Decrease in Acid Rain over 29-Year Study at Paradise, Mt. Rainier National Park
Abstract
Weekly wet precipitation samples from Paradise in Mt. Rainier National Park, WA, were analyzed for major anions and cations, conductivity and pH. Volume weighted 3-month averages were tested for significant trends throughout the 29-year monitoring period starting in 1989 and compared with analogous data collected at established National Atmospheric Deposition Program sites throughout the state. While significant i ncreasing trends were observed in sulfate, nitrate, and proton concentrations from 1989-2000, from 2 001-2018 trends decreased for sulfate by 74%, nitrate by 48% and protons by 61%. These results indicate that air pollution standards contribute significantly to the reduction in acid rain deposition to this pristine and vulnerable high elevation location. Meanwhile, nitrogen (N) deposition rates from ammonium increased by 72% since 2001 . Combined N input from nitrate and ammonium is meeting critical loads, with implications for nutrient pollution of this unique and protected ecosystem. Continued long-term monitoring is thus imperative to track anthropogenic inputs to such a vulnerable environment .
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFM.B13N2524R
- Keywords:
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- 0414 Biogeochemical cycles;
- processes;
- and modeling;
- BIOGEOSCIENCES;
- 0426 Biosphere/atmosphere interactions;
- BIOGEOSCIENCES;
- 0469 Nitrogen cycling;
- BIOGEOSCIENCES;
- 0478 Pollution: urban;
- regional and global;
- BIOGEOSCIENCES