Spatiotemporal Variations in Chemical Composition of Wet Atmospheric Deposition in Mexico City

Abstract A comprehensive analysis of the chemical composition of wet atmospheric deposition was performed on 7048 samples collected between 2003 and 2021 over Mexico City. The descending ion abundance trend was NH4+ > SO42− > NO3− > Ca2+ > Cl− > H+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > K+, probably...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Elizabeth Vega, Ann Wellens, Ana Luisa Alarcón, Rodolfo Sosa, Monica Solano, Monica Jaimes-Palomera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2023-07-01
Series:Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.230023
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1823862802430820352
author Elizabeth Vega
Ann Wellens
Ana Luisa Alarcón
Rodolfo Sosa
Monica Solano
Monica Jaimes-Palomera
author_facet Elizabeth Vega
Ann Wellens
Ana Luisa Alarcón
Rodolfo Sosa
Monica Solano
Monica Jaimes-Palomera
author_sort Elizabeth Vega
collection DOAJ
description Abstract A comprehensive analysis of the chemical composition of wet atmospheric deposition was performed on 7048 samples collected between 2003 and 2021 over Mexico City. The descending ion abundance trend was NH4+ > SO42− > NO3− > Ca2+ > Cl− > H+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > K+, probably associated with industrial activity, heavy traffic and agricultural activities. Although main precursors have decreased importantly, ion composition did not show a clear trend throughout the years. Maximum concentrations of major ions were found in the northern and central part of the megacity, due to the impact of the Tula industrial corridor located north of the city. Weekly pH values varied from 3.6 to 9.4, being 27.1% of the values acidic. Fractional acidity showed that in sites located at higher altitudes, maximum 84.5% of the acidity was neutralized, whereas at northern stations at lower altitudes neutralization was observed up to 98%, due to the presence of alkaline species coming from the cement industry. Average ratios of (NH4+ + Ca2+)/(NO3− + SO42−) were > 1, suggesting neutralization of SO42− and NO3− by NH4+ and Ca2+. Average NO3−/SO42− ratios suggested that the acidity was mainly influenced by sulfates coming from H2SO4. Wet deposition ranged from 4–9.9 kg ha−1 year−1 and from 8.2–17.6 kg ha−1 year−1 for sulfur and nitrogen, respectively, among the geographical areas. The results of this study highlight the sensitivity of wet deposition chemistry to geographical, elevation and source considerations.
format Article
id doaj-art-44f6fed74df1482fad4a5bb93119646b
institution Kabale University
issn 1680-8584
2071-1409
language English
publishDate 2023-07-01
publisher Springer
record_format Article
series Aerosol and Air Quality Research
spelling doaj-art-44f6fed74df1482fad4a5bb93119646b2025-02-09T12:23:23ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092023-07-0123911910.4209/aaqr.230023Spatiotemporal Variations in Chemical Composition of Wet Atmospheric Deposition in Mexico CityElizabeth Vega0Ann Wellens1Ana Luisa Alarcón2Rodolfo Sosa3Monica Solano4Monica Jaimes-Palomera5Instituto de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y Cambio Climático, Sección de Contaminación Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad UniversitariaFacultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoInstituto de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y Cambio Climático, Sección de Contaminación Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad UniversitariaInstituto de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y Cambio Climático, Sección de Contaminación Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad UniversitariaInstituto de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y Cambio Climático, Sección de Contaminación Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad UniversitariaSecretaría del Medio Ambiente in México CityAbstract A comprehensive analysis of the chemical composition of wet atmospheric deposition was performed on 7048 samples collected between 2003 and 2021 over Mexico City. The descending ion abundance trend was NH4+ > SO42− > NO3− > Ca2+ > Cl− > H+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > K+, probably associated with industrial activity, heavy traffic and agricultural activities. Although main precursors have decreased importantly, ion composition did not show a clear trend throughout the years. Maximum concentrations of major ions were found in the northern and central part of the megacity, due to the impact of the Tula industrial corridor located north of the city. Weekly pH values varied from 3.6 to 9.4, being 27.1% of the values acidic. Fractional acidity showed that in sites located at higher altitudes, maximum 84.5% of the acidity was neutralized, whereas at northern stations at lower altitudes neutralization was observed up to 98%, due to the presence of alkaline species coming from the cement industry. Average ratios of (NH4+ + Ca2+)/(NO3− + SO42−) were > 1, suggesting neutralization of SO42− and NO3− by NH4+ and Ca2+. Average NO3−/SO42− ratios suggested that the acidity was mainly influenced by sulfates coming from H2SO4. Wet deposition ranged from 4–9.9 kg ha−1 year−1 and from 8.2–17.6 kg ha−1 year−1 for sulfur and nitrogen, respectively, among the geographical areas. The results of this study highlight the sensitivity of wet deposition chemistry to geographical, elevation and source considerations.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.230023Acid rainWet depositionIonic speciesMexico CitypH
spellingShingle Elizabeth Vega
Ann Wellens
Ana Luisa Alarcón
Rodolfo Sosa
Monica Solano
Monica Jaimes-Palomera
Spatiotemporal Variations in Chemical Composition of Wet Atmospheric Deposition in Mexico City
Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Acid rain
Wet deposition
Ionic species
Mexico City
pH
title Spatiotemporal Variations in Chemical Composition of Wet Atmospheric Deposition in Mexico City
title_full Spatiotemporal Variations in Chemical Composition of Wet Atmospheric Deposition in Mexico City
title_fullStr Spatiotemporal Variations in Chemical Composition of Wet Atmospheric Deposition in Mexico City
title_full_unstemmed Spatiotemporal Variations in Chemical Composition of Wet Atmospheric Deposition in Mexico City
title_short Spatiotemporal Variations in Chemical Composition of Wet Atmospheric Deposition in Mexico City
title_sort spatiotemporal variations in chemical composition of wet atmospheric deposition in mexico city
topic Acid rain
Wet deposition
Ionic species
Mexico City
pH
url https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.230023
work_keys_str_mv AT elizabethvega spatiotemporalvariationsinchemicalcompositionofwetatmosphericdepositioninmexicocity
AT annwellens spatiotemporalvariationsinchemicalcompositionofwetatmosphericdepositioninmexicocity
AT analuisaalarcon spatiotemporalvariationsinchemicalcompositionofwetatmosphericdepositioninmexicocity
AT rodolfososa spatiotemporalvariationsinchemicalcompositionofwetatmosphericdepositioninmexicocity
AT monicasolano spatiotemporalvariationsinchemicalcompositionofwetatmosphericdepositioninmexicocity
AT monicajaimespalomera spatiotemporalvariationsinchemicalcompositionofwetatmosphericdepositioninmexicocity