An intercomparison of continuous flow, and automatically segmenting rainwater collection methods for determining precipitation conductivity and pH

Abstract

This report compares two precipitation intensity or volume weighted rainwater collection methods. A continuous flow measurement of conductivity and pH is compared to the corresponding data for samples collected by a fraction collection system. Conductivity data from summer thunderstorms in Omaha, Nebraska, collected by the two systems are comparable to each other and with integrated collection by a wet-only, event collector. The flow system pH measurement exhibits bias with respect to the fraction collection system due to insufficient electrode equilibration time, especially when the precipitation conductivity is low, < 10 μS cm −1.