research project details
Project Title: Assessing atmospheric deposition at the Allegheny Portage
Railroad National Historic Site
Investigator(s): James A. Lynch
Sponsor: National Park Service
Environmental Problem Addressed:
Acidic atmospheric deposition.
Research Project Objectives:
Establish an atmospheric deposition monitoring site at the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site using National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network (NADP/NTN) sampling techniques and analytical protocols.
Summary:
Atmospheric deposition has been identified as a major environmental problem throughout the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern regions of the U.S. Although patterns in spatial distributions and temporal trends in precipitation chemistry and wet deposition have been observed within Pennsylvania, there is considerable dynamic variability within and between regions of the Commonwealth, as well as between years. Insufficient data are available to accurately assess observed deviations in annual and seasonal precipitation chemistry and wet deposition, how these deviations are influenced by climatic patterns, local emissions of SO2 and NOx, and land use practices.
Understanding the causes of temporal and spatial variability enables resource managers to more precisely determine the environmental, social, and public health consequences of atmospheric deposition. Given the geographic location of the Allegheny Portage Railroad site with respect to major emission sources and the potential sensitivity of the region's ecosystems to high levels of atmospheric deposition, monitoring at this site would enhance the development of sound resource management plans for the site. This project will determine the chemistry of weekly precipitation samples collected in central Pennsylvania. Results will be reported to the National Park Service.
