Appropriate range of quality control limit for wet deposition monitoring

Precipitation chemistry programs in different regions of the world have different quality control limits for ion balance parameter IPD in wet deposition monitoring (R). The range of R values was calculated by assuming sample rainwater models in this paper. It was found that R was influenced by the inorganic ion types, total ion concentrations (IS) and the accuracy of the measurements (a(i)). R was defined and calculated as a function of a(i) and ion concentration C(i). R values of different types of wet deposition (including ocean type, continent type and combined oceanic and continental deposition) were different. There were also differences between the samples of the same type if the samples had different total ion concentrations. When IS>100 microeq/L, the ranges of R of ocean type deposition, continent type deposition and combined oceanic and continental deposition were 5 approximately 7%, 5 approximately 9% and 5 approximately 11%, respectively. When IS<50 microeq/L, if a(i) was 100%, the range of R was 33 approximately 71% because of the lower accuracy. It was also found that R of each criterion was in the range of R as calculated in this paper when IS>or=50 microeq/L, but when IS<50 microeq/L, the criteria varied greatly in their R values.