Oxygen isotopy of atmosphere sulfates

In the four different types of experiments described, oxygen isotope analyses of field samples of atmospheric sulfates show that 1) aerosol sulfates and precipitation sulfates are formed predominantly by different mechanisms during summer months (at Argonne, IL.), 2) the oxygen isotopy of aerosol su...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 1981-01, Vol.15 (7), p.804-808
Main Authors: Holt, Ben D, Cunningham, Paul T, Kumar, Romesh
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:In the four different types of experiments described, oxygen isotope analyses of field samples of atmospheric sulfates show that 1) aerosol sulfates and precipitation sulfates are formed predominantly by different mechanisms during summer months (at Argonne, IL.), 2) the oxygen isotopy of aerosol sulfates can, on occasion, have continent-wide characteristics and yet be affected by local meteorologcial changes as reflected by barometric pressure, and 3) the O-13 content of sulfates (precipitation or aerosol) that are formed by aqueous oxidation of SO sub(2) probably varies inversely with the altitude of its formation. Although oxygen isotopy alone cannot be used to specify mechanisms of sulfate formation in the atmosphere where a plurality of mechanisms is operative, it clearly can provide constraints within which the effective mechanisms must proceed.
ISSN:0013-936X