Abstract
The concentration of a pollutant in an air mass and the concentration of that pollutant in a series of rain water samples from a single event within that air mass, fluctuate during the course of the event. This the result of scavenging, diffusion, and advection processes. A simple mathematical model, containing only a scavenging term has had limited success in describing changes of concentration in rain water. To date, no attempt has been made to include diffusion or advection terms in the model. In this study, a two factor model was developed after determining that (1) the exponential scavenging term is dependent upon the amount of precipitation that has fallen rather than time elapsed and (2) that the magnitude of the diffusion/advection term is inversely proportional to the precipitation rate. Coefficients for the variables in the two terms [Psiav and (bCf), respectively] were determined by the best fit of concentration curve derived from the model equation to experimental points. Time series from 24 rain events samples collected during 1987-88 and during the spring of 1998 were analyzed. The values of Psiav were remarkably constant during both periods, but the two groups of Psiav were different. The values of (bCf) correlated moderately well with the concentrations of ions in the samples.
Recommended Citation
Chittenden, David M. II and Chittenden, Julie D.
(2001)
"Empirical Model for the Variarion in Concentration of Metal Ions During a Precipitation Event,"
Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 55, Article 5.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol55/iss1/5
