Chemical composition of precipitation and wet deposition of major ions on the Korean peninsula

Daily wet precipitations were collected at nine stations in South Korea from May 1996 to April 1998 and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity and major ions; SO42−, NO3−, Cl−, NH4+, Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+ and K+. The volume-weighted mean concentrations of NO3− and non-seasalt SO42− were 19.3 and 43.0 μeq l−1, respectively, which were comparable to Northeast America and Central Europe. However, the level of H+ was found to be significantly lower as a result of neutralization by ammonia and calcium containing compounds. Although the pH of individual precipitations fluctuated excessively with a wide range from 3.4 to 8.0, the annual mean value ranged from 4.6 to 4.8 without area variation. With the exception of the seasalt ions, no distinct spacial variations in ion composition were observed. On the other hand, seasonal variations were evident. Annual wet deposition was estimated and compared to that in East Asian countries and other continents.