Phosphorus 32, phosphorus 37, beryllium 7, and lead 210: Atmospheric fluxes and utility in tracing stratosphere troposphere exchange

The deposition of P-32, P-33, Be-7, and Pb-210 was measured in individual r ain events at Woods Hole, Massachusetts, from March 1996 to February 1998 a nd in bimonthly integrated samples from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, from Mar ch to November 1997. Annual depositional fluxes of P-32 and P-33 were 0.178 and 0.165 disintegrations per minute (dpm) cm(-2) yr(-1) respectively, at Woods Hole and 0.212 and 0.175 dpm cm(-2) yr(-1) at Portsmouth. Beryllium 7 and Pb-210 fluxes averaged 12.8 and 1.43 dpm cm(-2) yr(-1), respectively, at Woods Hole and 16.6 and 0.95 dpm cm(-2) yr(-1), at Portmouth. High ratio s of P-33/P-32 were observed in rain during severe storm events, suggesting that these isotopes trace stratosphere/troposphere exchange processes. Sim ilar occurrences, however, were not observed in Be-7/P-32, Be-7/P-33, and B e-7/Pb-210 ratios. This indicates that there is substantial fractionation o ccurring among phosphorus, beryllium, and lead between time of production a nd atmospheric removal via precipitation.