Chemical composition of Eastern Mediterranean aerosol and precipitation: Indications of long-range transport

Daily aerosol and wet-only precipitation samples were collected, between January 1992 and January 1994 at a permanent station established on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Collected aerosol and rain samples were analyzed for major ions and a host of trace elements using a combination of analytical techniques, including ion chromatography, atomic absorbtion spectrometry and instrumental neutron activation analysis. The results have demonstrated;hat concentrations of parameters studied are higher than corresponding concentrations measured in the western Mediterranean and western parts of the Black Sea due to longer transport distances to source regions of particles and precipitation scavenging from atmosphere. Elemental composition of aerosols and rain differ due to different scavenging efficiencies Of elements associated with coarse and fine particles. Temporal behaviour of elements were explained by variations in source strengths and variations in scavenging efficiency.