Abstract
Measurements of the chemical composition of rainwater and suspended particles collected in parallel at a rural site in North-West England have shown that sulfate, nitrate, chloride, ammonium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium ions constitute the main ionic species in atmospheric aerosols and rainwater. Sodium and magnesium are associated with chlorides and originate from sea salt spray. Comparative concentrations in rainwater and parallel aerosol samples indicate that rainout and washout mechanisms are effective in the deposition of sea salt aerosols at this sampling site. Acidity was only present to any appreciable degree in rainwater samples. It appears that at least in this region where the levels of NH3 in the lower atmosphere are usually high and annual rainfall is appreciable, the deposition of acidity is mainly due to wet deposition. Washout and principally rainout mechanisms are efficient in the removal of anthropogenic sulfur compounds. (Baker-IVI)