Chemical Composition, Fluxes and Seasonal Variation of Acid Deposition in Carmen Island, Campeche, Mexico.docVIP

Journal of Environmental Protection, 2013, 4, 50-56 /10.4236/jep.2013.48A1007 Published Online August 2013 (/journal/jep) Chemical Composition, Fluxes and Seasonal Variation of Acid Deposition in Carmen Island, Campeche, Mexico R. M. Cerón , J. G. Cerón , C. G. Carballo , C. A. Aguilar , C. Montalvo , J. A. Benítez , 1* 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 Y. J. Villareal , M. M. Gómez 1 2 Research Center on Environmental Sciences, Autonomous University of Carmen, Carmen City, Mexico; EPOMEX Institute, Autonomous University of Campeche, San Francisco de Campeche, Mexico. * Email: rceron@pampano.unacar.mx Received June 13 , 2013; revised July 13 , 2013; accepted July 30 , 2013 th th th Copyright ? 2013 R. M. Cerón et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ABSTRACT Two hundred and seven rain events from April to October 2012 were collected in Carmen Island, Campeche, Mexico, and the concentration of 8 major ions with the pH of the rainwater was analyzed. Chemical composition variations as a result of seasonal patterns, meteorological conditions, and mixed local and regional sources contribution were assessed. In spite of the fact that nitrate and sulfate levels were higher than background hemispheric values, the average pH val- ues were almost neutral. Carmen Island was under the influence of both, local and long-range transported emissions. Chemical composition showed a dilution effect as a result of the monthly rainfall amount. Ca