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Rain pH estimation based on the particulate matter pollutants and wet deposition study
Shweta Singh1, Suresh Pandian Elumalai1, Asim Kumar Pal1
1Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad 826004, India.
The Science of the Total Environment
|May 4, 2016
Summary
Particulate matter (PM) significantly influences rain pH, especially in polluted areas. Accounting for PM in rain pH predictions improves accuracy and reveals a neutralization effect, masking the true extent of acid rain impacts.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Atmospheric Chemistry
- Water Quality Assessment
Background:
- Particulate matter (PM) influence on rain pH is often overlooked in forecasting.
- High PM concentrations, as seen in Dhanbad, necessitate PM inclusion in rain pH models.
- Existing models typically consider only acid-causing gases (ACG), neglecting PM effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To theoretically predict rain pH by incorporating the effects of particulate matter (PM).
- To assess the impact of site-specific deposited dust on the pH of neutral water.
- To compare prediction accuracy between models with and without PM correction factors.
Main Methods:
- Two theoretical methods for rain pH prediction were employed: one with acid-causing gases (ACG) only, and another including PM (ACG-PM).
- Experimental analysis of site-specific deposited dust to determine its effect on neutral water pH.
- Incorporation of a PM correction factor into the rain pH estimation model.
Main Results:
- The ACG-PM method yielded rain pH estimates more representative of observed values.
- Fractional bias (FB) significantly reduced from 10(-1) for the ACG method to 10(-2) for the ACG-PM method.
- Particulate matter was confirmed to neutralize rain acidity, resulting in slightly acidic to near-neutral pH despite high sulfate flux.
Conclusions:
- Particulate matter plays a crucial role in determining rain pH, often neutralizing acidity.
- Relying solely on rain pH can underestimate pollution severity due to masking effects of PM.
- Accurate water quality assessment requires considering the ionic composition influenced by pollutants like PM.
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