ISSN:
1573-0662
Keywords:
lead
;
pollution
;
mid-Atlantic bight
;
radionuclide
;
air mass
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Geosciences
Notes:
Abstract Atmospheric depositional fluxes of 7Be and210Pb (bulk) and stable Pb (wet) were measuredsimultaneously for one year (from September 1995–August 1996) atStillpond, Maryland on the uppereastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. The annual total(bulk) depositional fluxes of 210Pb and 7Bewere 0.78 and 13 dpm cm-2, respectively, andagree well with other previously reported results atnearby locations such as Norfolk, VA and Lewes, DE. The wet depositional flux of stable Pb (58 ng cm-2 yr-1)was also similar to thatmeasured at other Chesapeake sites during 1990–1991(55 ng cm-2 yr-1, for both Wye and Elms,Maryland). This suggests that a constant Pb flux hasbeen reached since the mandatory use of unleadedgasoline was instituted. The concentrations of7Be, 210Pb, and to a lesser extent stable Pbwere diluted exponentially by precipitation, based onconcentrations versus precipitation plots. Due tohigher enrichment of 210Pb in the lowertroposphere, the dilution effect was largest on210Pb (i.e., controlled mainly by below-cloudscavenging processes), and thus its depositional fluxincrease is negligible as precipitation amountincreases. A good correlation between the amount ofprecipitation and total depositional flux of 7Beand stable Pb, which are more enriched in the uppertroposphere, suggests that precipitation amount isimportant in controlling their fluxes (i.e.,controlled by both below-cloud scavenging and in-cloudcondensation processes). Based on 7Be versus210Pb plots, it appears that 7Be, relativeto 210Pb, is less efficiently scavenged bysnowfall. Our results suggest that in addition toprecipitation amounts, marine air-mass transport orsnowfall may be important factors in controlling theseasonal variability of the fallout fluxes of tracemetals in coastal areas.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1006383030362
Permalink
