Acidity and conductivity of precipitation on central Long Island,New York in relation to meteorological variables

Three years of hourly sequential precipitation samples from central Long Island, New York were analyzed to determine the relationships between acidity and conductivity and concentrations of sulfate, nitrate plus nitrite, nitrogen in ammonium, sodium, and chloride ions. Relationships between precipitation acidity and meteorological conditions were also studied. Hydrogen ion concentrations are similar to those elsewhere in the northeastern United States. They are best correlated with sulfate concentrations but also correlate with concentrations of nitrogen in nitrate plus nitrite and nitrogen in ammonium ion. Concentrations are highest in the summer, with cold front and squall line precipitation and with rain showers and thundershowers. All ions measured contributed to sample conductivity but hydrogen ion contributed the most with sulfate ion second. Conductivity calculated from concentrations of the separate ions agreed well with measured conductivity. Conductivity showed relationships to meteorological conditions similar to those of hydrogen ion concentration except when sodium and chloride ions predominated in the sample.