The wet deposition of sulphate and its relationship to sulphur dioxide emissions

Abstract The factors that need to be considered when comparing rainfall data with emission data are summarized, and it is indicated that trend analysis cannot be done properly without the use of a transport model. An optimization procedure is then used to fit the Fisher statistical model to European sulphate in rain data. This indicates moderately efficient to efficient wet removal of sulphate on average across Europe which is consistent with limited aqueous oxidation close to major source areas and a more linear behaviour at greater distances. At such distances, particularly in remote high rainfall areas, the results demonstrate the importance of ‘background’ sulphate. The results are all consistent with the latest U.K. rainfall data.