A possible deficiency in estimates of wet deposition obtained from data generated by the NADP/NTN network

A conventional precipitation scavenging model is used to evaluate the effect of the performance of a wet-deposition collector on the reported deposition amounts. Three National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network sites in semi arid western Colorado were chosen to evaluate chloride and sulfate wet deposition. Observations of the performance of a wet-deposition collector have demonstrated a delay in opening and cycling during a precipitation event. A significant fraction of wet deposition may be excluded when small amounts of initial precipitation are not sampled and a potentially large fraction of annual wet deposition may be excluded if a majority of precipitation events are small. The actual amount missed depends on the precipitation intensity, variability of intensity with time, raindrop or snowflake size and the individual performance characteristics of the collector. Detailed performance data are needed for individual wet-deposition collectors before accurate estimates of wet deposition can be expected.