NEUTRALIZATION OF NITRATE AND SULFATE IN PRECIPITATION ON THE EASTERNMEDITERRANEAN COAST OF SPAIN - IMPLICATIONS FOR ACIDIFICATION RISK

The results of two years of sampling in a network of 27 rainfall stati ons in the Valencian Community (Spain), show that most of the rain col lected in the region, has a neutral or alkaline character, with a high mean concentration of calcium and sulphate in some df them. The netwo rk station distribution covers a range of distances from the sea, alti tude, soil use and human activities (industrial, urban, agricultural). No correlation has been found between H+ and strong acidic anions (no n marine sulphate and nitrate). Sulphate showed a high correlation wit h calcium. The spatial distribution of non marine sulphate, the ratio of marine sulphate to total sulphate, nitrate, calcium concentration a nd pH, showed that different concentrations of species are more relate d with geographical and meteorological characteristics than with proxi mity to industrial sources. The received amount of calcium and their n eutralizing effect is used to predict the soil acidification risk in t he area.