A RAIN ACIDITY STUDY IN BRUNEI-DARUSSALAM

Fifty-three bulk deposition samples were collected at the campus of th e University of Brunei Darussalam between April and November 1994 usin g a funnel-in bottle sampler. The pH and conductivity were determined immediately after collection on aliquots of the sample. Samples were r efrigerated at 5 degrees C for subsequent chemical analysis. Analyses for Cl-, NO3- and SO42- were carried out by means of ion chromatograph y, while Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ were determined by atomic spectroscopy . The recorded pH values were in the range of 4.35 to 6.59. Seventy-se ven percent of the samples had pH values below 5.6, demonstrating the occurrence of acidic deposition. The range, mean and standard deviatio n of measured concentrations are reported. There was very little diffe rence between measurements in filtered and unfiltered samples. Correla tion coefficients between pairs of parameters are reported and discuss ed.