Summer deposition of sulfate and reactive nitrogen to two alpine valleys in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

Abstract

Summer deposition of sulfate and reactive nitrogen (mainly nitrate, and ammonium) to two alpine valleys in the Southern Canadian Rocky Mountains was investigated to constrain their major sources and evaluate physiographic influences on deposition. The effects of elevation, aspect, and air mass trajectory were evaluated using stable isotope composition (δ15N–NO3−, δ18O–NO3−, and δ34S–SO42−) and major ion concentrations for bulk precipitation. Deposition in the two valleys was related to synoptic scale weather conditions and the route the air mass followed, the location of major emission sources relative to the study site, and atmospheric residence time. Distinct differences in deposition at a relatively small scale between two opposing alpine valleys was mainly related to the orientation of the two valleys relative to the physiography of the Western Canadian Cordillera and the dominant pathways of air mass transport. Sulfate was found to be dominantly from distant sources, while NO3− was strongly enhanced by emissions from local to regional combustion. Local to regional pollutants were preferentially transported to the NNW facing Robertson Valley during NW-upslope synoptic conditions while precipitation in the SE facing Haig Valley was from relatively clean air with minimal influence from local and regional pollutants particularly at the highest elevation site.