Title: Estimation of dry deposition of atmospheric nitrogen to coastal waters of de la Plata River in front of Buenos Aires city

Authors: Andrea L. Pineda Rojas, Laura E. Venegas

Addresses: Faculty of Sciences, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, National Scientific and Technological Research Council (CONICET), Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellon 2, 1428-Buenos Aires, Argentina. ' Faculty of Sciences, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, National Scientific and Technological Research Council (CONICET), Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellon 2, 1428-Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract: The deposition of atmospheric nitrogen (N) to surface waters of de la Plata River downwind of Buenos Aires city has been estimated using atmospheric dispersion-deposition models. The CALPUFF model has been applied to point source emissions and the DAUMOD-RD model has been developed to evaluate the area source emission contributions. Annual N dry deposition is 31,763 kg-N yr−1 (≈ 18 kg-N km−2 yr−1). Nitrogen dioxide contribution to this value is 54% and nitric acid contribution is 46%. The maximum monthly N dry deposition fluxes vary between 7 kg-N km−2 month−1 (in February) and 13 kg-N km−2 month−1 (in December).

Keywords: dry deposition; nitric acid; nitrogen dioxide; atmospheric dispersion modelling; Buenos Aires; Argentina; atmospheric nitrogen; surface waters; water pollution; environmental pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2009.023663

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2009 Vol.36 No.4, pp.367 - 385

Published online: 07 Mar 2009 *

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