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https://hdl.handle.net/11681/9510| Title: | Baseline acidity of ancient precipitation from the South Pole |
| Authors: | National Science Foundation (U.S.) University of Calgary. Dept. of Geography. Cragin, James H. Giovinetto, Mario B. Gow, A. J. (Anthony Jack) |
| Keywords: | Acids Acid rain Acid precipitation Antarctic regions Antarctica Core sampling Ice cores South Pole EPOLAR |
| Publisher: | Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (U.S.) Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.) |
| Series/Report no.: | CRREL report ; 84-15. |
| Description: | CRREL Report Abstract: Measurements of meltwater pH from annual layers of South Pole firn and ice samples ranging in age from 40 to 2000 years B.P. show that precipitation at this remote site has a higher natural acidity than that expected from atmospheric equilibrium with CO2. The average pH of deaerated (CO2-free) samples was 5.64 ± 0.08, while air equilibrated samples averaged 5.37 ± 0.08,a pH that is about a factor of two more acidic than the expected background pH of 5.65. The observed "excess" acidity can be accounted for by natural SO4^2- and NO3^- levels in the samples probably originating from non-anthropogenic H2SO4 and HNO3. Because of the presence of these naturally occurring acids in South Pole precipitation, a pH of 5.4 is considered a more representative baseline reference pH for acid precipitation studies. |
| Rights: | Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/11681/9510 |
| Appears in Collections: | CRREL Report |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR-84-15.pdf | 1.6 MB | Adobe PDF |  View/Open |