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ACIDIFICATION OF RAIN IN THE PRESENCE OF SO2, H2O2, O3, AND HNO3
Citation:
Overton, Jr., J. AND J. Durham. ACIDIFICATION OF RAIN IN THE PRESENCE OF SO2, H2O2, O3, AND HNO3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/D-82/150.
Description:
The production of acid sulfate and the accumulation of acid nitrate are calculated for falling raindrops using a physico-chemical model that accounts for the mass transfer of SO2, H2O2, O3, HNO3, and CO2. The acidification is postulated to occur through the absorption of free gaseous HNO3 and the absorption and reaction of SO2, H2O2, and O3 to yield H2SO4. Investigated are the relative effectivness of H2O2(aq) and O3(aq) for oxidizing SO2(aq) to yield H(+1) and SO-2(-2), and the role of HNO3(aq) in acidifying raindrops and influencing SO4(-2) formation. Results indicate: that H2O2 is more effective than O3, HNO3 inhibits SO4(-2) formation due to O3 oxidation, and in all cases, HNO3 is important in acidifying rain.