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Springer Verlag, Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry

DOI: 10.1007/s10874-015-9316-2

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Chemical and isotopic interpretation of major ion compositions from precipitation: a one-year temporal monitoring study in Wrocław, SW Poland

Journal article published in 2015 by M. Ciężka, M. Modelska, M. Górka, A. Trojanowska Olichwer, D. Widory ORCID
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

The chemical compositions (Na + , NH 4 −) of wet precipitation and nitrogen isotope compositions δ 15 N(NH 4 +) were studied from January to December 2010 in Wrocław (SW Poland). Results of a principle component analysis show that 82 % of the data variability can be explained by three main factors: 1) F1 (40 %) observed during vegetative season (electrical conductivity, HCO 3 − , NO 3 − , NO 2 − , NH 4 + and SO 4 2−), mainly controlling rainwater mineralization; 2) F2 (26 %) observed during vegetative and heating seasons (K + , Ca 2+ and Mg 2+), probably representing a combination of two processes: anthropogenic dusts and fertilizers application in agricultural fields, and 3) F3 (16 %) reported mainly during heating season (Na + and Cl −) probably indicating the influence of marine aerosols. Variations of δ 15 N(NH 4 +) from −11.5 to 18.5‰ identify three main pathways for the formation of NH 4 + : 1) equilibrium fractionation between NH 3 and NH 4 + ; 2) kinetic exchange between NH 3 and NH 4 + ; 3) NH 4 + exchange between atmospheric salts particles and precipitation. The coupled chemical/statistical analysis and δ 15 N(NH 4 +) approach shows that while fossil fuels burning is the main source of NH 4 + in precipitation during the heating season, during the vegetative season NH 4 + originates from local sewage irrigation fields in Osobowice or agricultural fertilizers.