Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Measurements of pH versus drop size in natural rain

Nature volume 321, pages 842–844 (1986)Cite this article

Abstract

Results from numerical scavenging models1–3, which estimate the acidity of precipitation falling through a polluted atmosphere, have previously been compared with pH measurements of bulk rain water or of single drops of unknown size4. Here we describe results from an instrument which, for the first time, allows the variation of pH with drop size to be evaluated. Field measurements show a pH minimum for drops with radii near 0.5 mm, consistent with simple mass transfer considerations.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Overton, J. H., Aneja, V. P. & Durham, J. L. Atmos. Envir. 13, 355–367 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hill, F. B. & Adamowitz, R. F. Atmos. Envir. 11, 917–927 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Adewuyi, Y. G. & Carmichael, G. R. Atmos. Envir. 16, 719–729 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Esemen, N. A. & Fergus, R. B. Sci. Total Envir. 6, 223–226 (1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Bradley, S. G. J. atmos. ocean. Technol. 2, 190–200 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Skelland, A. H. P. Differential Mass Transfer, 510 (Wiley, New York, 1974).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, 1, New Zealand

    Stephen J. Adams, Stuart G. Bradley & C. David Stow

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, 1, New Zealand

    Stephen J. de Mora

Authors
  1. Stephen J. Adams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stuart G. Bradley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. David Stow
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Stephen J. de Mora
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Adams, S., Bradley, S., Stow, C. et al. Measurements of pH versus drop size in natural rain. Nature 321, 842–844 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/321842a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/321842a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing