Atmospheric deposition of SO 4–S and (NH 4+NO 3)–N at two rural sites in the Western Maracaibo Lake Basin, Venezuela

Abstract

Rain samples were collected by events from November 1988 to November 1989 at La Esperanza and Catatumbo sites. Dry deposition was collected only at La Esperanza. Volume weighted average pH values of the rainfall samples were between 4.23 and 4.64, individual samples reaching as low as pH 3.0. An excess of sulfate greater than 96% was obtained at both sites. The wet deposition of hydronium and sulfate showed the same seasonal cycle. The highest inputs were obtained in April during the early rainy season, and November which is the second peak rainfall period. The amounts of (NH 4+NO 3)–N ha -1 yr -1 added by wet deposition ranged from 5.2 kg at La Esperanza to 11.4 kg at Catatumbo (ammonium accounts for about 67% of these amounts), and the corresponding amounts of SO 4–S deposited ranged from 10.5 to 12.5 kg, respectively. These amounts of S and N annually deposited by precipitation are substantially higher than those found in eastern Venezuelan sites, and slightly lower than the values reported for rural areas of Europe and North America. In La Esperanza it was estimated that wet deposition accounts for about 93% of the inorganic-N and for about 80% of the SO 4–S annually added by dry and wet deposition. It is envisaged that in Lake Maracaibo Basin large argricultural and uncultivated land areas downwind of the El Tablazo Petrochemical Complex, Cardon-Amuay and, probably, the Aruba-Curacao refineries and urban Maracaibo might already be affected by anthropogenic air pollution as evidenced by the higher level of H +, SO -2 4, NO - 3 and NH + 4 wet deposition found at the La Esperanza and Catatumbo sites in comparison with other rural sites in Venezuela.