Chemical characteristics of wet precipitation at Peradeniya in Sri Lanka.

The purpose of this research was to study chemical characteristics of precipitation in Peradeniya (Latitude 6.973701, Longitude 79.915256), Kandy District in Sri Lanka. This study was conducted during 2012 to 2014, and wet precipitation was analyzed for pH, conductivity, Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, F-, Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, Pb, Cu, Mn, Al, Zn, and Fe for a total of 125 samples. Less than 2% events of acidic precipitation were recorded, and the VWA of the major ionic species present in precipitation samples were in the order of Ca2+ > Na+ > Cl- > NH4+ > SO42- > K+ > NO3- > Mg2+. Neutralization of acidity of precipitation is much more related to CaCO3 than NH3, and the presence of high content of Ca2+ strongly supports this fact. When considering marine contribution, SO42-/Na+, Ca2+/Na+, Mg2+/Na+, and K+/Na+ ratios are higher than the reference value suggesting that contribution of sources other than marine. Concentration of Zn is the highest while that of Mn is the lowest. Principal component analysis identified probable sources for major ionic and elemental sources as both natural and anthropogenic sources such as vehicular emission due to heavy traffic, waste incineration, bio mass burning, brass industry, and construction.

Atmospheric chemical composition of bulk deposition at two geographically distinct locations in Sri Lanka.

This study presented the research work carried out for the investigation of chemical composition of bulk precipitation in two geographically and economically distinct areas, namely Gampaha and Kandy Districts. This study was conducted from 2013 to 2014 at three sampling stations in each District. The bulk precipitation was analyzed for pH, conductivity, Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, F-, Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, Pb, Cu, Mn, Al, Zn and Fe for a total of 375 samples. Only 8% events of acidic precipitation were recorded in Gampaha District when compared with 3% in Kandy District. The volume weighted average concentrations of the major ionic species present in precipitation samples were in the order of Na+ > Ca2+ > Cl- > NH4+ > SO42- > Mg2+ > NO3- > K+ > F- in the Gampaha stations, while the order was NH4+ > Ca2+ > Na+ > Cl- > SO42- > Mg2+ > NO3- > K+ > F- in Kandy District. Neutralization of acidity of precipitation is much more related to CaCO3 than NH3, and high content of Ca2+ ions present in both Districts strongly supports this fact. When considering marine contribution, SO42-/Na+, Ca2+/Na+ and Mg2+/Na+ ratios are higher than the reference value suggesting contribution of sources other than marine. Depositions of both Districts show that the concentration of Al is the highest while that of Mn is the lowest. Principal component analysis suggests that influencing human activities on chemical composition of rain water depends on thermal power plant, oil refinery, heavy traffic and waste incineration in the study area.