Primary Sulfates in Atmospheric Sulfates: Estimation by Oxygen Isotope Ratio Measurements

The relative amounts of primary and secondary sulfates in atmospheric aerosols and precipitation can be estimated from measurements of the stable oxygen isotope ratios. The oxygen-18 content of sulfates formed in power plant stack gases before emission into the atmosphere is significantly higher tha...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1982-07, Vol.217 (4554), p.51-53
Main Authors: Holt, Ben D., Kumar, Romesh, Cunningham, Paul T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerosols
Amphibians
Atmosphere
Atmospherics
Composition
Environmental aspects
Fossils
Habitat preferences
Pollutant emissions
Precipitation
Reptiles
Sediments
Sulfates
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Summary:The relative amounts of primary and secondary sulfates in atmospheric aerosols and precipitation can be estimated from measurements of the stable oxygen isotope ratios. The oxygen-18 content of sulfates formed in power plant stack gases before emission into the atmosphere is significantly higher than that of sulfates formed from sulfur dioxide after emission. Results show that 20 to 30 percent of the sulfates in rain and snow at Argonne, Illinois, are of primary origin.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.217.4554.51