Features of the chemical composition of atmospheric precipitation in Minsk in 2018–2022

   The features of the chemical composition of atmospheric precipitation on the territory of Minsk for the period from 2018 to 2022 are characterized based on an analysis of the results of monitoring the chemical composition of atmospheric precipitation at the experimental site of the Institute of Environmental Management of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. The main attention is paid to sulfur and nitrogen compounds – the major acidifying and eutrophicating compounds in atmospheric precipitation. It was established that the average annual suspended sulfur content in precipitation during the study period varied from 0.29 mg S/l (2018) to 0.47 mg S/l (2021), oxidized nitrogen – from 0.21 mg N /l (2019) to 0.43 mg N/l (2020), reduced nitrogen – from 0.20 mg N/l (2019) to 0.89 mg N/l (2020). A comparison was made of observation data on the chemical composition of precipitation in Minsk with the dynamics of sulfur and nitrogen content in precipitation at Co-operative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the long-range transmissions of air pollutants in Europe (EMEP Program) stations; the main attention is paid to stations located in neighboring countries to Belarus. The most noticeable deviation of the average annual content in atmospheric precipitation in Minsk from the range of concentration fluctuations during the period under review at EMEP stations is typical for refurbished nitrogen in 2020. The comparison was made of the values of atmospheric deposition of sulfur and nitrogen based on observation data on the chemical composition of atmospheric precipitation in Minsk with the calculated values of dry and wet deposition of sulfur and nitrogen obtained within the framework of the EMEP Program. It has been established that the model values of annual wet deposition are generally close to those calculated from monitoring data at the experimental site. The maximum levels of the deposition of both sulfur and nitrogen, according to modeling by the EMEP Program, are typical for 2020; for the same year is characterized by peak levels of fallout and according to measurements at the experimental site. The convergence of series of annual weighted average sulfur content in precipitation in Minsk and at background monitoring stations in the European territory of Russian Federation (ETR) was revealed.

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