ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION IN ACID-SENSITIVE AREAS OF IRELAND - THE INFLUENCE OF WIND DIRECTION AND A NEW COAL BURNING ELECTRICITY-GENERATION STATION ON PRECIPITATION QUALITY

Greater acidity and substantially higher annual deposition of the major ions, were recorded in the precipitation at Glencree (Co. Wicklow) on the east coast of Ireland compared to those recorded at the west coast sampling stations. The daily average deposition of hydrogen ions, nonmarine sulphate arid oxidized nitrogen was higher at all sampling locations when associated with air masses arriving from the east compared with those from the west, particularly at Glencree. The impact of emissions from the coal- fired power station at Moneypoint (Co.Clare) on the precipitation was negligible at all sampling locations except at Gortglass, a point 19 km to its east. At this sampling point the higher concentrations and deposition for hydrogen ion and non-marine sulphate were associated with air masses expected to show the influence of the Moneypoint power station.