Nitrite in rain and dew in Santiago city, Chile. Its possible impact on the early morning start of the photochemical smog

Abstract Cations (pH, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and ammonium) and anions (sulfate, nitrate, nitrite, and chloride) concentrations were measured in Santiago city rain and dew waters collected during the 1995 to 1999. Concentrations measured in dews are considerably higher than those measured in rains. The high ionic concentration present in dew waters could contribute to their corrosion potential. Natural dust makes an important contribution to the ions present in dews, but the presence of rather high sulfate concentrations (up to 900 μeq/l) indicate a significant contribution of anthropogenic sources. A peculiar characteristic of dew waters is the relatively high nitrite concentrations (up to 180 μeq/l). This nitrite can be resuspended into the boundary layer after dew water evaporation, possibly due to the relatively high volatily of ammonium nitrite. This upward flux could constitute an important source of hydroxyl radicals in the early morning, contributing so to the initial steps of the observed photochemical smog.

[1]  A. Sjoedin.  Studies of the diurnal variation of nitrous acid in urban air. , 1988, Environmental science & technology.

[2]  U. Platt,et al.  Observations of nitrous acid in the Los Angeles atmosphere and implications for predictions of ozone-precursor relationships. , 1982, Environmental science & technology.

[3]  G. B. Avery,et al.  Nitrite Variability in Coastal North Carolina Rainwater and Its Impact on the Nitrogen Cycle in Rain , 1999 .

[4]  A. Winer.  Air pollution chemistry , 1986 .

[5]  J. Heicklen.  Atmospheric chemistry. , 1982, Environmental science & technology.

[6]  T. Wallington,et al.  Identification and measurement of nitrous acid in an indoor environment , 1985 .

[7]  Martin Ferm,et al.  Measurements of nitrous acid in an urban area , 1985 .

[8]  J. Harrison,et al.  Portable generator for on-site calibration of peroxyacetyl nitrate analyzers , 1984 .

[9]  Cinzia Perrino,et al.  Measurement of nitrous acid in milan, italy, by doas and diffusion denuders , 1996 .

[10]  P. Worsfold.  Handbook of air pollution analysis, 2nd edn. : R. M. Harrison and R. Perry (Eds.), Chapman and Hall, London, 1986 (ISBN 0-412-24410-1). xxii + 634 pp. Price £42.50. , 1987 .

[11]  R. Harrison,et al.  Evidence for a surface source of atmospheric nitrous acid , 1994 .

[12]  Gerhard Lammel,et al.  Nitrous acid and nitrite in the atmosphere , 1996 .

[13]  E. Lissi,et al.  Hydrogen peroxide deposition and decomposition in rain and dew waters , 2000 .

[14]  E. Sanhueza,et al.  High HONO atmospheric concentrations during vegetation burning in the tropical savannah , 1989 .

[15]  Thomas W. Kirchstetter,et al.  Measurement of nitrous acid in motor vehicle exhaust , 1996 .

[16]  Gerhard Lammel,et al.  The atmospheric aerosol as a source of nitrous acid in the polluted atmosphere , 1988 .

[17]  R. Harrison,et al.  Nitrous and nitric acid measurements at sites in South-East England , 1992 .

[18]  B. Rappenglück,et al.  The Evolution of Photochemical Smog in the Metropolitan Area of Santiago de Chile , 2000 .

[19]  P. Artaxo,et al.  Aerosol composition and source apportionment in Santiago de Chile , 1999 .

[20]  K. Demerjian,et al.  The mechanism of photochemical smog formation. , 1972, Chemistry in Britain.

[21]  Richard A. Cox,et al.  Laboratory studies of the kinetics of formation of nitrous acid from the thermal reaction of nitrogen dioxide and water vapour , 1988 .

[22]  J. Notholt,et al.  Formation of HNO2 on aerosol surfaces during foggy periods in the presence of NO and NO2 , 1991 .

[23]  Decomposition of pernitric acid in aqueous solution , 1990 .