FORMATE AND ACETATE IN PARTICULATE MATTER AND DUST FALL AT DAYALBAGH,AGRA (INDIA)

Formate and acetate were estimated in particulate matter and dust fall at Dayalbagh. The mean concentration of formate and acetate in partic ulate matter was 290+/-205 and 320+/-90 ng m(-3) in the winter and 240 +/-160 and 440+/-100 ng m(-3) in the summer. The percent of formic aci d present in the particulate phase was 29% in the winter and 25% durin g the summer while the same values for acetic acid were 29% and 43%, r espectively. Higher percentages of both acids in particulate phase com pared to those observed at other sites were attributed to the basic na ture of aerosol at this site. In dust fall, the fluxes of formate in t he winter and summer were 132+/-114 and 155+/-55 mu g m(-2) day(-1), r espectively while corresponding acetate fluxes were 177+/-166 and 80+/ -54 mu g m(-2) day(-1). Higher fluxes at this site is contributed by h igher atmospheric loading of particulate matter, dominated by the soil -derived elements. The estimated deposition velocities of particulate formate were 0.5+/-0.6 cm s(-1) in winter and 0.3+/-0.6 cm s(-1) in su mmer while v(d)'s for particulate acetate were 1.0+/-0.9 cm s(-1) in w inter and 0.5+/-0.6 cm s(-1) in summer. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.