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Chemical characteristics of rainwater in Sichuan basin, a case study of Ya’an

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Abstract

Rainwater chemistry was investigated at a semi-rural site in Ya’an, Sichuan basin with rain samples collected from May 2013 to July 2014. The rainwater pH values ranged from 3.25 to 6.86, with an annual volume-weighted mean (VWM) of 4.38, and the acid rain frequency was 74 %. Such severe acidification, 15 % of the total events showed a pH below 4.0, attributed to the deficiency of Ca2+, significant anthropogenic pollution contribution, and rainy pattern to this area. The annual VWM of total ions concentration was 477.19 μeq/L. NH4 + was the most abundant ionic species, followed by SO4 2−, NO3 −, Ca2+, Cl−, Na+, K+, Mg2+, and F− in a descending order. The total ionic concentrations presented a seasonal trend of lower values in autumn and summer but higher ones in winter and spring. Based on enrichment factor, correlation analysis and principle component analysis, three factors were identified: factor 1 (NH4 +, SO4 2−, NO3 −, K+, and Cl−, 47.45 % of the total variance) related to anthropogenic sources (coal/fuel combustion, biomass burning and agriculture), factor 2 (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and Cl−, 34.01 % of the total variance) associated with natural sources, and factor 3 (H+, 11.78 % of the total variance) related to free acidity. Back trajectory analysis indicates that the rainwater chemistry in Ya’an was mainly affected by regional air masses from Sichuan basin. Long-range transported air masses from southwest with heavy anthropogenic pollution increased the total ion concentration and acidity of rainwater. Considering its special topography, anthropogenic emissions from regional and long-range transport (especially from southwest) must be controlled effectively to improve the acid rain condition of non-urban areas in Sichuan basin.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (41205095) and (21305097) of China.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an, 625014, China

      Yun-Chun Li, Meng Zhang, Man Shu, **an-**ang Wang & **ao-Qing Zhao

    2. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nan**g University of Information Science and Technology, Nan**g, 210044, China

      Yun-Chun Li

    3. Key Laboratory of Aerosol Chemistry and Physics, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, **’an, 710075, China

      Steven Sai Hang Ho

    4. Environmental Monitoring Station of Ya’an City, Ya’an, 625014, China

      Zi-Fang Liu

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    1. Yun-Chun Li
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    Responsible editor: Gerhard Lammel

    Yun-Chun Li and Meng Zhang contributed equally to this work.

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    Li, YC., Zhang, M., Shu, M. et al. Chemical characteristics of rainwater in Sichuan basin, a case study of Ya’an. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 13088–13099 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6363-4

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