Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Deposition of Trace Substances from the Atmosphere

  • Chapter
Environmental Meteorology

Abstract

Despite decades of study, deposition processes are incompletely understood. Wet deposition, usually studied only at ground level, results from events occurring in several kilometres of the depth of the troposphere. A full description requires three dimensional modelling of the air flows, composition and microphysics within the rain system. Future measurements by aircraft may result in much better knowledge of the vertical structure and of mechanisms. For the present, even total deposition at the surface is uncertain because of difficulties of interpolation between measurement sites.

Nucleation scavenging in clouds is probably the chief mechanism for small particle (< 3 µm) deposition, but very limited experiments show unexpectedly large rates of collection by falling drops which suggests that this process is also important. Chemical processes in cloud and rain increase incorporation of gases in precipitation by the availability of reactants.

Dry deposition of large particles is important, and is of rather uncertain, though probably minor, significance for sulphate and other small particles. For HNO3, HCl and SO2 dry deposition is the major removal process; it may be important in the air chemistry of other reactive gases. For HNO3 and probably HCl removal from the air is limited only by transport to surfaces, having a time scale of only a few hours. Removal of SO2, like O3, is dependant on surface properties, and is an order of magnitude slower. Dry deposition in irregular terrain is uncertain; it may be augmented locally by interception of cloud and fog by hilltop vegetation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Baldocchi, D.D., Hicks, B.B. and Camara, P. (1987) ‘A canopy stomatal resistance model for gaseous deposition to vegetated surfaces’. Atmospheric Environment 21 91–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, A.K. and Latham, J. (1983) ‘A laboratory study of the scavenging of sub-micron aerosol by charged raindrops’. Quart J Roy Met Soc 109 763–770.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belot, Y., Bourreau, J.C., Dubois, M.L. and Pauly, L.S. (1974) ‘Mesure de la vitesse de captation du dioxide de soufre sur les feuilles des plant au moyen du soufre -34’. IAEA-SM-191–18, IAEA, Vienna.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borys, R.D., Demott, P.J., Hindman, E.E. and Feng, D. (1983) ‘The significance of snow crystal and mountain surface riming on the removal of atmospheric trace constituents from cold clouds’. Precipitation Scavenging. Dry Deposition and Resuspension. Pruppacher, H.R., Semonin, R.G. and Slinn, W.G.N. (eds) Elsevier, New York 181–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brink, H.M. ten, Schwartz, S.E. and Daum, P.H. (1987) Efficient scavenging of aerosol sulfate by liquid water clouds. Atmospheric Environment 21 2035–2052.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bromberg, S.M., Hicks, B.B. and Durham, J.L. (1986) ‘Monitoring acid deposition’. Aerosols: Research. Risk assessment and Control Strategies. Lee, S.D., Scheider, T., Grant, L.D. and Verkerk, P.J. (eds) Lewis Publishers Inc. Michigan. 239–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brutsaert, W. (1975) ‘A theory for local evaporation (or heat transfer) from rough and smooth surfaces at ground level’. Water Resources Research 11 543–550.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Businger, J.A. (1986) ‘Evaluation of the accuracy with which dry depositon can be measured with current micrometeorological techniques’. J. Climate and Applied Meteorology 25 1100–1124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cambray, R.S., Cawse, P.A., Garland, J.A., Gibson, J.A.B., Johnson, P., Lewis, G.N.J., Newton, D., Salmon, L. and Wade, B.O. (1987) ‘Observations on radioactivity from the Chernobyl accident’. Nuclear Energy 26 77–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cawse, P.A. (1974) ‘A survey of atmospheric trace elements in the UK’ (1972–1973). AERE-R7669 HMSO London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain, A.C. (1953) ‘Aspects of travel and deposition of aerosols and vapour clouds’. AERE HP/R1261 Harwell Laboratory, UKAEA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain, A.C. (1967) ‘Deposition of lycopodium spores and other small particles to rough surfaces’. Proc. R. Soc. Lond A296 45–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain, A.C. (1983) ‘Deposition and resuspension’. Precipitation Scavenging. Dry Deposition and Resuspension. Pruppacher, H.R., Semonin, R.G. and Slinn, W.G.N. (eds) Elsevier New York 731–751.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain, A.C., Garland, J.A. and Wells, A.C. (1984) ‘Transport of gases and particles to surfaces with widely spaced roughness elements’. Boundary-Layer Meteorology 29 343–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, T.Y. (1984) ‘Rain and snow scavenging of HNO3 vapour in the atmosphere’. Atmospheric Environment 18 191–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dasch, J.M. (1983) ‘A comparison of surrogate surfaces for dry deposition collection’. Precipitation Scavenging Dry Deposition and Resuspension. Pruppacher, H.R., Semonin, R.G. and Slinn, W.G.N. (eds) Elsevier New York 883–900.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, C.I., Lindberg, S.E., Schmidt, J.A., Cartwright, L.G. and Landis, L.R. (1985) ‘Dry deposition of sulphate onto surrogate surfaces’. J. Geophys. Res. 90 2123–2130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, C.I. and Friedlander, S.K. (1978) ‘A filtration model for aerosol dry deposition: application to trace metal deposition from the atmosphere’. J. Geophys. Res. 83 2343–2352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, C.I., Miller, J.M. and Pleskow, M.A. (1982) ‘The influence of surface structure on predicted particle dry deposition to natural grass canopies’. Water Air and Soil Pollution 18 25–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delany, A.C. and Davies, T.D. (1983) ‘Dry deposition of NOX to grass in rural East Anglia’. Atmospheric Environment 17 1391–1394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denmead, T.O., Simpson, J.R. and Freney, J.R. (1974) ‘Ammonia flux onto the atmosphere from a grazed pasture’. Science 185 609–610.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dollard, G.J., Unsworth, M.H. and Harvey M.J. (1983) ‘Pollutant transfer in upland regions by occult precipitation’. Nature 302 241–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dollard, G.J., Davies, T.J. and Lindstrom, J.P.C. (1987a) ‘Measurements of the dry deposition rates of some trace gas species’. Physico Chemical Behaviour of Atmospheric Pollutants. Reidel, Dordrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dollard, G.J., Atkins, D.H.F., Davies, T.J. and Healy, C. (1987b) ‘Concentrations and dry deposition velocities of nitric acid’. Nature 326 481–483.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duyzer, J.H., Bouman, A.M.M., van Aalst, R.M. and Diederen, H.S.M.A. (1987) ‘Assessment of dry deposition fluxes of NH3 and NH4 + over natural terrains’. TNO report P87/034 TNO, The Hague.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eliassen, A. and Saltbones, J. (1983) ‘Modelling of long range transport of sulphur over Europe: a two year model run and some model experiments’. Atmospheric Environment 17 1457–1473.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fowler, D. and Cape, J.N. (1984) ‘The contamination of rain samples by dry deposition on rain collectors’. Atmospheric Environment 18 183–189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fowler, D., Cape, J.N., Leith, I.D., Choularton, J.W., Gay, M.J. and Jones, A. (1987) ‘The influence of altitude on rainfall composition’. Atmospheric Environment, to be published.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galbally, I.E. and Roy, CR. (1978) ‘Loss of fixed nitrogen from soils by NO exhalation’. Nature 275 734–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garland, J.A. (1977) ‘The dry deposition of sulphur dioxide to land and water surfaces’. Proc. Roy. Soc. London A354 245–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garland, J.A. and Branson, J.R. (1977) ‘The deposition of sulphur dioxide to pine forest assessed by a radioactive method’. Tellus 29 445–454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garland, J.A. (1978) ‘Dry and Wet removal of sulphur from the atmosphere’. Atmospheric Environment 21 349–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garland, J.A. and Cox, L.C. (1982) ‘Deposition of small particles to grass’. Atmospheric Environment 16 2699–2702.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garland, J.A. (1983a) ‘Dry deposition of small particles to grass in field conditions’. Precipitation Scavenging Dry Deposition and Resuspension. Pruppacher, H.R., Semonin, R.G. and Slinn, W.G.N. (eds). Elsevier New York 849–854.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garland, J.A. (1983b) ‘Principles of dry deposition: application to acidic species and ozone’. Saure Niederschlage, VDI-Berichte 500, 83–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garratt, J.R. and Hicks, B.B. (1973) ‘Momentum heat and water vapour transport to and from natural and artificial surfaces’. Quart J.R. Met. Soc. 99 (1973) 680–687.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gatz, D.F. (1975) ‘Wet deposition estimation using scavenging ratios’. J. Great Lakes Res. 2 Suppl. 1. 21–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldsmith, R., Dellafield, H.J. and Cox, L.C. (1963) ‘The role of diffusiophosesis in the scavenging of radioactive particles from the atmosphere’. Quart. J. Roy Met Soc 89 43–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grennfelt, P., Bengtson, C. and Skarby, L. (1983) ‘Dry deposition of nitrogen dioxide to scots pine needles’. Precipitation Scavenging, Dry Deposition and Resuspension. Pruppacher, H.R., Semonin, R.G. and Slinn, W.G.N. (eds). Elsevier New York 753–761.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hicks, B.B., Wesely, M.L., Lindberg, S.E. and Bromberg, S.M. (1986) ‘Proceedings of the NAPAP Workshop on Dry Deposition’. NDAA/ATDD, Oak Ridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofken, K.D., Meixner, F.X. and Ehhalt, D.H. (1983) ‘Deposition of atmospheric trace constituents onto different natural surfaces’. Precipitation Scavenging Dry Deposition and Resuspension. Pruppacher, H.R., Semonin, R.G. and Slinn, W.G.N. (eds). Elsevier New York 825–836.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofken, K.D., Meixner, F., Miller, K.P. and Ehhalt, D.H. (1986) ‘Untersuchungen zur trockenen Deposition und Emission von atmosphärischem NO, NO2 und HNO3 on naturlichen Oberflachen’. Jul 2054, KfA Jülich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hosker, R.P. and Lindberg, S.E. (1982) ‘Atmospheric deposition and plant assimilation of gases and particles’. Atmospheric Environment 16 889–910.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hove, L.W.A. van, Koops, A.J., Adema, E.H., Vredenberg, W.J. and Pieters, G.A. (1987) ‘Analysis of the uptake of atmospheric ammonia by leaves of phaseolas vulgavis, L’. Atmospheric Environment 21 1759–1764.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huebert, B.J. (1983) ‘Measurements of the dry deposition flux of nitric acid vapor to grasslands and forest’. Precipitation Scavenging, Dry Deposition and Resuspension. Pruppacher, H.R., Semonin, R.G. and Slinn, W.G.N. (eds). Elsevier New York 785–792.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johansson, C. (1987) ‘Pine forest: A negligible sink for atmosphere NOX in rural Sweden’. Tellus: to be published.

    Google Scholar 

  • Judeikis, H.S., and Stewart, T.B. (1976) ‘Laboratory measurements of SO2 deposition velocities on selected building materials and soils’. Atmospheric Environment 10, 769–776.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindberg, S.E. and Lovett, G.M. (1983) ‘Application of surrogate surfaces and leaf extraction methods to estimation of dry deposition’. Precipitation Scavenging Dry Deposition and Resuspension. Pruppacher, H.R., Semonin, R.G. and Slinn, W.G.N. (eds). Elsevier New York 837–848.

    Google Scholar 

  • Little, P. and Wiffen, R.D. (1977) ‘Emission and deposition of petrol engine exhaust Pb-I deposition of exhaust lead to plant and soil surfaces’. Atmospheric Environment 11 437–447.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Little, P. and Wiffen, R.D. (1978) ‘Emission deposition of petrol engine exhaust Pb-II. Airborne concentration particle size and deposition of lead near motorways’. Atmospheric Environment 12 1331–1341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lovett, G.M. and Reiners, W.A. (1983) ‘Cloud water: an important vector of atmospheric deposition’. Precipitation Scavenging, Dry Deposition and Resuspension. Pruppacher, H.R., Semonin, R.G. and Slinn, W.G.N. (eds) Elsevier, New York 171–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovett, G.M., Reiners, W.A. and Olson, R.K. (1982) ‘Cloud droplet deposition in subalpine balsam fir forest’. Science 218 1303–1304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meixner, F.X., Franken, H.H., Duyzer, J.H. and Van Aalst, R.M. (1987) ‘Dry deposition of gaseous HNO3 to a pine forest’. 16th International Meeting on Air Pollution and its Applications. Lindau April 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicholson, K.W. and Davies, T.D. (1987) ‘Field measurement’s of the dry deposition of particulate sulphate’. Atmospheric Environment 21 1561–1571

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owers M.J. and Powell, A.W. (1974) ‘Deposition velocity of SO2 on land and water surfaces using a 35S tracer method’. Atmospheric Environment 8 63–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parrish, D.D., Williams, E.J., Fahey D.W., Liu S.C. and Fehsenfeld, F.C. (1987) ‘Measurements of nitrogen oxide fluxes from soils: intercomparison of enclosure and gradient measurement techniques’. J. Geophvs Res. 92 2165–2171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peirson, D.H. and Salmon, L. (1959) ‘Gamma radiation from deposited fallout’. Nature 184 1678–1679.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Penkett, S.A., Jones, B.M.R. and Eggleton, A.E.J. (1979) ‘The importance of atmospheric ozone and hydrogen peroxide in oxidising sulphur dioxide in cloud and rain water’. Atmospheric Environment 13 123–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peters, L.K. (1983) ‘Gases and their precipitation scavenging in the marine atmosphere’. Air Sea Exchange of Gases and Particles. Liss, P.S. and Slinn, W,G,N, (eds) Reidel, Dordrecht, 299–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, L.K., Viets, F.G. and Hutchinson, G.L. (1972) ‘Air containing nitrogen-15 ammonia: foliar absorption by corn seedlings’. Science 175 759–761.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodhe, H. and Grandell, J. (1981) ‘Estimates of characteristic times for precipitation scavenging’. J. Atmospheric Sci. 38 370–386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sehmel, G.A. (1980) ‘Particle and gas dry deposition, a review’. Atmospheric Environment 14 983–1011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sievering, H. (1983) ‘Eddy flux and profile measurements of small-particle dry-deposition velocity at the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory’. Precipitation Scavenging, Dry Deposition and Resuspension. Pruppacer, H.R., Semonin, R.G. and Slinn, W.G.N. (eds) Elsevier, New York 963–978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slinn, W.G.N. (1982) ‘Predictions for particle deposition to vegetative canopies’. Atmospheric Environment 16 1785–1794.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slinn, W.G.N. (1983) ‘A potpourri of deposition and resuspension questions’. Precipitation Scavenging, Dry Deposition and Resuspension. Pruppacher, H.R., Semonin, R.G. and Slinn W.G.N. (eds) Elsevier, New York 1361–1416.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slinn, W.G.N. (1984) ‘Precipitation Scavenging’. Atmospheric Science and Power Production. Randerson (ed) DOE/TIC-27601, National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorn, A.S. (1975) ‘Momentum, mass and heat exchange of plant communities’. Vegetation and the Atmosphere (Ed. J.L. Montieth). Academic Press 57–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Underwood, B.Y. (1987) ‘Dry deposition to a uniform canopy: evaluation of a first-order closure mathematical model’. Atmospheric Environment 27 1573–1585.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Aalst, R.M. (1983) ‘Dry deposition of acid precursors in the Netherlands’. Saure Niederschläge VDI-Berichte 500 97–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Voldner, E.C., Barrie, L.A. and Sirois, A. (1986) ‘A Literature review of dry deposition of oxides of suphur and nitrogen with emphasis on long range transport modelling in North America’. Atmospheric Environment 20 2101–2123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waldman, J.M., Murgen, J.W., Jacob, D.J. and Hoffmann, M.R. (1985) ‘Chemical characterisation of stratus cloudwater and its role for pollutant deposition in a Los Angeles pine forest’. Tellus 37B 91–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wesely, M.L. (1983) ‘Turbulent transport of ozone to surfaces common in the eastern half of the United States’. Trace Atmospheric Constituents. S.E. Schwartz (ed) John Wiley & Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wesely, M.L., Eastman, J.A., Stedman, D.H. and Valvac, E.D. (1982) ‘An eddy correlation measurement of NO2 flux to vegetation and comparison to O3’. Atmospheric Environment 16 815–820.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wesely, M.L., Cook, D.R. and Hart, R.L. (1985) ‘Measurements and parameterisation of particulate sulphur dry deposition over grass’. J. Geophvs Res. 90 2131–2143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental and Medical Sciences Division, Harwell Laboratory, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RA, England

    J. A. Garland, K. W. Nicholson & R. G. Derwent

Authors
  1. J. A. Garland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. W. Nicholson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. G. Derwent
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Verein Deutscher Ingenieure, Kommission Reinhaltung der Luft, Düsseldorf, Germany

    K. Grefen  & J. Löbel  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1988 Kluwer Academic Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Garland, J.A., Nicholson, K.W., Derwent, R.G. (1988). The Deposition of Trace Substances from the Atmosphere. In: Grefen, K., Löbel, J. (eds) Environmental Meteorology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2939-5_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2939-5_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7823-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-2939-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation