Scavenging and solubility of trace element bearing aerosols in frontal clouds at Whiteface Mountain, NY

Scavenging efficiencies for aerosol Se, As, and Sb in cloud water are reported for frontal stratus clouds at Whiteface Mountain, NY. Solubility for these aerosols is also presented from seven clouds associated with air that had passed through highly diverse pollution source regions. Solubilities of Se and As aerosols were determined to be 98 ± 1 % and 96 ± 3%, respectively. Antimony aerosols yielded a slightly lower value, 92 ± 4%. Scavenging efficiencies were determined by comparing the concentrations below the cloud base with that in the cloud interstitial air. Scavenging efficiencies for Se, As, Sb, and SO4 were determined to be 53%v or less in the moderate to highly polluted air masses studied.