Relationship of ambient atmospheric hydrocarbon (C12–C32) concentrations to deposition

Anthropogenic and biogenic high molecular weight (C₁₂–C₃₂) hydrocarbons (HC) were deposited from the atmosphere in association with both wet and dry deposition. Wet deposition generally removes HC at a faster rate (22 to 670 μg m^?2 day^?1) than dry deposition (4 to 189 μg m^?2 day^?1). However, due to longer periods during which dry deposition occurred, the removal of atmospheric HC by wet and dry deposition is almost equal during this sampling period. Atmospheric HC concentrations ranged from 0.8 to 4.1 μg m^?3 and show no simple relationship to wet or dry deposition rates. Large variabilities in deposition rates for individual events were found, but long-term average deposition was relatively constant.