Abstract
This paper summarizes the results of four statistical approaches for the estimation of long-term trends (1983–92) in sulfate concentration data from 90 monitoring sites across the United States. Least squares regression models and nonparametric techniques were applied to these data. Sulfate concentrations were found to be generally decreasing on the order of 0–4% at most sites. There was general agreement that trends were significant in the Great Lakes, Pacific northwest, and southwest regions. Although strengths and weaknesses are described for each approach, all of these approaches are useful for long-term trend estimation. Visualization techniques are recommended for displaying trend patterns and associated levels of statistical significance.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baier, W. G. and Cohn, T. A.: 1993, Trend Analysis of Sulfate, Nitrate, and pH Data Collected at National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network Stations Between 1980 and 1991, U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 93-56, 13 pp.
Dempster, A. P., Laird, N. M., Rubin, D.B.: 1977, “Maximum Likelihood from Incomplete Data via the EM Algorithm, J. of the Royal Stat. Soc. B, 39, 1–22.
Environmental Protection Agency — Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (EPA/OAQPS): 1994, National Air Pollutant Emission Estimates, 1900–1993, EPA-454/R-94-027, 314 pages.
Hirsch, R. M., Slack, J. R., Smith, R. A.: 1982, “Techniques of Trend Analysis for Monthly Water Quality Data”, Water Resources Res., 18, 107–121.
Kendall, M. G.: 1975, Rank Correlation Methods, 202 pages.
Oehlert, G. W.: 1993, “Regional Trends in Sulfate Wet Deposition”, J, of the Amer. Stat. Assn., 88, 390–399.
Sen, P. K.: 1968, “Estimates of the Regression Coefficient Based on Kendall's tau”, J. Am. Stat. Assoc., 63, 1379–1389.
Sirois, A.: 1993, “Temporal Variation of Sulphate and Nitrate Concentrations in Precipitation in Eastern North America: 1979–1990”, Atmos. Envir., 27A, 945–963.
Sisterson, D. L., Bowersox, B. C., Olsen, A. R., Meyers, J. P., Vong, R. J., Simpson, J. C.,Mohnen, V.: 1990, Deposition Monitoring: Methods and Results, National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program, State of Science and Technology, Report No.6, 386 pages.
Styer, P. E.: 1994, An Illustration of the Use of Generalized Linear Models to Measure Long-Term Trends in the Wet Deposition of Sulfate, National Institute of Statistical Sciences (NISS), 18 pages.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Holland, D., Simmons, C., Smith, L. et al. Long-term trends in NADP/NTN precipitation chemistry data: Results of different statistical analyses. Water Air Soil Pollut 85, 595–601 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00476894
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00476894