Spatial and Temporal Variations in Rainwater Chemistry in a Rapid Urbanization Area of Shenzhen, China
Studying chemical constituents in rainwater can provide insights into the origin, characteristics, concentration, and processes involved in clearing atmospheric pollutants. This study investigated the spatial–temporal variations in rainwater chemistry characteristics in a rapidly urbanizing area of...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| author | Yilong Huang Jingwei Yang Chang Liu Ruiying Jing Qiaohui Lu |
| author_facet | Yilong Huang Jingwei Yang Chang Liu Ruiying Jing Qiaohui Lu |
| author_sort | Yilong Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Studying chemical constituents in rainwater can provide insights into the origin, characteristics, concentration, and processes involved in clearing atmospheric pollutants. This study investigated the spatial–temporal variations in rainwater chemistry characteristics in a rapidly urbanizing area of Shenzhen from 2007 to 2022. The mean pH during 2007–2022 was 5.12 ± 0.45, significantly higher than the 4.51 recorded in 2006. The electrical conductivity (EC) of rainfall in Shenzhen was 15.79 ± 2.63 μS/cm and showed a progressive decrease over the years. Human activities influenced the trends of SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup>, which decreased, while NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> and Cl<sup>−</sup> increased over time. The cations Ca<sup>2+</sup> and NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> decreased, and Mg<sup>2+</sup>, Na<sup>+</sup>, and K<sup>+</sup> increased. In recent years, Na<sup>+</sup> and Cl<sup>−</sup>, typical sea-salt ions, became dominant with a continually rising contribution. The study also revealed that Shenzhen has been affected by both sulfuric and nitric acid rain, formally ushering in the nitric acid-type era. Spatial variations in rainfall chemicals were observed, especially for pH and conductivity, attributed to urban growth, distance from the coast, and industrial development. Moreover, the total ion concentration of rainwater demonstrated high values in the spring and low values in the summer due to the significant effect of precipitation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dfc71e69098f4046a4caae7d0e2f3f31 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
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| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj-art-dfc71e69098f4046a4caae7d0e2f3f312024-12-27T14:10:04ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332024-12-011512153610.3390/atmos15121536Spatial and Temporal Variations in Rainwater Chemistry in a Rapid Urbanization Area of Shenzhen, ChinaYilong Huang0Jingwei Yang1Chang Liu2Ruiying Jing3Qiaohui Lu4Guangdong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Water Affairs Big Data and Water Ecology, Shenzhen 518001, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Water Affairs Big Data and Water Ecology, Shenzhen 518001, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Water Affairs Big Data and Water Ecology, Shenzhen 518001, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Water Affairs Big Data and Water Ecology, Shenzhen 518001, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Water Affairs Big Data and Water Ecology, Shenzhen 518001, ChinaStudying chemical constituents in rainwater can provide insights into the origin, characteristics, concentration, and processes involved in clearing atmospheric pollutants. This study investigated the spatial–temporal variations in rainwater chemistry characteristics in a rapidly urbanizing area of Shenzhen from 2007 to 2022. The mean pH during 2007–2022 was 5.12 ± 0.45, significantly higher than the 4.51 recorded in 2006. The electrical conductivity (EC) of rainfall in Shenzhen was 15.79 ± 2.63 μS/cm and showed a progressive decrease over the years. Human activities influenced the trends of SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup>, which decreased, while NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> and Cl<sup>−</sup> increased over time. The cations Ca<sup>2+</sup> and NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> decreased, and Mg<sup>2+</sup>, Na<sup>+</sup>, and K<sup>+</sup> increased. In recent years, Na<sup>+</sup> and Cl<sup>−</sup>, typical sea-salt ions, became dominant with a continually rising contribution. The study also revealed that Shenzhen has been affected by both sulfuric and nitric acid rain, formally ushering in the nitric acid-type era. Spatial variations in rainfall chemicals were observed, especially for pH and conductivity, attributed to urban growth, distance from the coast, and industrial development. Moreover, the total ion concentration of rainwater demonstrated high values in the spring and low values in the summer due to the significant effect of precipitation.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/12/1536rainwater chemistryShenzhenspatial–temporal variationsenrichment factorpost-industrial age |
| spellingShingle | Yilong Huang Jingwei Yang Chang Liu Ruiying Jing Qiaohui Lu Spatial and Temporal Variations in Rainwater Chemistry in a Rapid Urbanization Area of Shenzhen, China Atmosphere rainwater chemistry Shenzhen spatial–temporal variations enrichment factor post-industrial age |
| title | Spatial and Temporal Variations in Rainwater Chemistry in a Rapid Urbanization Area of Shenzhen, China |
| title_full | Spatial and Temporal Variations in Rainwater Chemistry in a Rapid Urbanization Area of Shenzhen, China |
| title_fullStr | Spatial and Temporal Variations in Rainwater Chemistry in a Rapid Urbanization Area of Shenzhen, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatial and Temporal Variations in Rainwater Chemistry in a Rapid Urbanization Area of Shenzhen, China |
| title_short | Spatial and Temporal Variations in Rainwater Chemistry in a Rapid Urbanization Area of Shenzhen, China |
| title_sort | spatial and temporal variations in rainwater chemistry in a rapid urbanization area of shenzhen china |
| topic | rainwater chemistry Shenzhen spatial–temporal variations enrichment factor post-industrial age |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/12/1536 |
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