MONNTORING AIR QUALITY AND ACIDDEPOSITION IN SOUTHERN U.S.

Atmospheric monitoring capabilities were established in 1988 by the University of Florida at Duke forest, near Durham. NC: Cary forest, near Gainesville, FL: and Austin forest, near Nacogdoches, TX. Continuous (hourly averaged) measurements of air quality (ozone, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide) and meteorological variables were made at these three low elevation (< 200 meters), rural locations in the southeastern U.S. for more than three years. During the same period at these sites wet and dry acid deposition samples were collected and analyzed on an event and weekly basis, respectively The monitoring locations were selected to determine actual atmospheric exposure indices for southern pine species in support of on-site surrogate exposure chamber studies conducted by Southern Commercial Forest Research Cooperative (SCFRC) investigators. Daily and quarterly averaged ozone maxima were higher (55 ppb) at the northernmost site in the network (Duke forest) in the second and third quarters (spring and summer seasons) and lower (35 ppb) in the first and fourth quarters (winter and fall seasons), when compared to ozone levels at the two southernmost sites (Cary and Austin forests). Seasonal ozone levels at the latter two sites were similar Nitrogen oxieds and sulfur dioxide levels were insignificant (< 5 ppb) most of the time at all sites, although soil emissions of NO at two sites were found to influence nighttime ozone concentrations. Typical maximum quarterly and annual aggregate ozone exposure indices were significantly higher at Duke forest (92.5/259 ppm-hr) than those values observed at the two southern sites (65.6/210 ppm-hr). Acid deposition (wet and dry) components concentrations and deposition fluxes observed at the Duke forest, NC piedmont site, were generally greater, dependent on site and season, than corresponding variables measured at either of the two southern coastal plain sites (Cary and Austin forests). Acid deposition variables observed at the latter two sites were remarkably similar, both qualitatively and quantitatively, although the sites were located 1300 km apart. A comparison of deposition fluxes of elemental nitrogen (NO3, NH4') and sulfur (5042-, SO3) components in wet and dry forms indicated that wet deposition accounts for approximately 70% of the total nitrogen and 73% of the total sulfur input on an annual equivalent basis at all sites.