National Trends Network for Precipitation Monitoring

Acid precipitation has caused adverse ecological and economic consequences in the eastern United States. In the western United States, the chemical composition and variability of wet atmospheric deposition is largely unknown due to a lack of quantitative data. However, industrial and vehicular emissions, which are known to cause acid precipitation in the East, are found also in the West.

Objectives

The purpose of the network is to collect data on the chemistry of precipitation for monitoring of geographical and temporal long-term trends. The precipitation at each station is collected weekly according to strict clean-handling procedures. It is then sent to the Central Analytical Laboratory where it is analyzed for hydrogen (acidity as pH), sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, chloride, and base cations (such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium).

Strategy and Approach

An atmospheric-deposition sampler in Smith Valley in Lyon County near Smith, Nevada, is operated. Samples are collected weekly for analysis of pH and specific conductance when sufficient precipitation occurs.

Data Availability and Additional Project Information

Data collected as part of the USGS National Trends Network Program are available from the National Atmospheric Deposition Program web site.

Additional Information about this program is also available from the USGS Atmospheric Deposition web site.

Relevance and Benefits

An important part of the USGS mission is to provide scientific information to manage the water resources of the Nation, and to enhance and protect our quality of life. The USGS is the lead Federal agency for monitoring wet atmospheric deposition (chemical constituents deposited from the atmosphere via rain, sleet, and snow) in the United States. In cooperation with more than 100 Federal, State, and local organizations, the USGS provides long-term atmospheric deposition data from a national-scale network of more than 200 sites. All data from this network are made available on the World Wide Web. The network provides data in support of research on air quality, water quality, forest productivity, materials effects, ecosystem studies, watershed studies and human health, and a national baseline with which to evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing and future regulations intended to reduce atmospheric emissions, and subsequent impacts to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The atmospheric deposition data collected in Nevada are an integral part of the nationwide atmospheric deposition network.

Publications

Tumbusch, M.L., 2003, Evaluation of OTT PLUVIO Precipitation Gage versus Belfort Universal Precipitation Gage 5-780--Supplmental Data, January 15 through July 16, 2002: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 077-03, 2 p.

Tumbusch, M.L., 2003, Evaluation of OTT PLUVIO Precipitation Gage versus Belfort Universal Precipitation Gage 5-780 for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4167, 25 p.

Tumbusch, M.L., 2002, Phase III-Evaluation of the Ott-Pluvio rain gage versus the Belfort 5-780 rain gage for modernizing the National Atmospheric Deposition Program: NADP Scientific Symposium and Technical Committee Meeting, Proceedings, September 10-13, 2002, Seattle, p. 8