Acid inputs from the atmosphere in the United Kingdom.

Inputs of acidity to the ground arise through two distinct routes: wet deposition which includes all acidity deposited in rain and snow and dry deposition, the direct sorption of SO2, NO2 or HNO3 gases by vegetation or soil surfaces. The acidity from dry deposition of SO2 and NO2 is created during the oxidation of deposited SO2 and NO2 to SO24 and NO3− respectively. The areas of Britain experiencing the largest wet deposition of acidity are the high rainfall areas of the west and north, in particular the west central highlands of Scotland, Galloway and Cumbria where inputs exceed 1 kp H+ ha−1 annually. Wet deposited acidity in the east coast regions of Britain is in the range 0.3–0.6 kg H+ ha−1 a−1. Monitoring data for rainfall acidity at rural sites throughout northern Britain show a decline in deposited acidity of about 50% during the last six years. Dry deposition is largest in the industrial midlands and southeast England and in the central lowlands of Scotland, where concentrations of SO2 are largest. In these regions the dry deposition of SO2 following oxidation may lead to acid inputs approaching 3 kg H+ ha−1 a−1 and greatly exceeding wet deposition