Wet Deposition Fluxes and Related Atmospheric Chemistry at Three Sites in Mexico

Rosa María Cerón Bretón, Julia Griselda Cerón Bretón, Claudia Alejandra Aguilar Ucán, Evangelina Ramírez Lara, José Abraham Ortínez Álvarez, Carlos Montalvo Romero, Carmen Guadalupe Carballo Pat

Chemistry Department, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico.
National Center for Training and Environmental Research, National Institute of Ecology, Mexico City, Mexico.
Research Center on Environmental Sciences, Autonomous University of Carmen, Botanical Garden, Carmen City, Mexico.

DOI: 10.4236/ojap.2014.31001                

Abstract

Wet deposition was collected in Mexico City (MC), Metropolitan Area of Monterrey (MAM) and El Chico National Park (ECNP), during 2009 and 2010. pH, conductivity, Cl^-, , Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ were determined. In MC, sulphate levels were greater than nitrate levels, and NH4 had mixed sources (vehicular emissions and agriculture activities). MAM had markedly alkaline atmospheric deposition, Na⁺ and Cl^-levels were unexpectedly high, especially during hurricane “Alex”. Low pH values were found in ECNP and nitrate concentrations were high, suggesting the influence of a local source (forest fires). Deposition fluxes (Kg.ha^-1yr^-1) for N-NO₃, N-NH₄ and S-SO₄ were 1.36, 2.74 and 4.84 for MAM; 7.27, 0.57 and 4.32 for ECNP; and 5.97, 4.96 and 6.78 for MC, respectively. Nitrogen deposition fluxes in ECNP were high considering that this site is a natural reserve.

Keywords

Acid Deposition; Mexican Atmospheric Deposition Network; Mexico; Wet Deposition; Wet Deposition Fluxes

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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