The Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 13 No 1 (2009): 107 – 119

 

 

 

COMPOSITIONS OF RAINWATER AND AEROSOLS AT GLOBAL ATMOSPHERIC WATCH IN DANUM VALLEY, SABAH

 

(Komposisi Air Hujan dan Aerosol di Stesyen Atmosferik Global,

Lembah Danum, Sabah)

 

S.Mariam Sumari¹*, Fairus Muhamad Darus¹, Nesamalar Kantasamy¹, Nurrul Izza Taib¹, 

Siniarovina ak Urban Sinyaw², Ida Rosmini Othman³

 

¹Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor

²The Malaysian Meteorological Services Department, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

 ³Faculty of Information Technology and Quantitative Science,

Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author:  sitim007@salam.uitm.edu.my

 

Abstract

Weekly wet rainwater and dry deposition samples were separately collected for 12 months from January to December 2007 in Danum Valley, Sabah.  Rainwater samples were determined for rainfall volume, pH, conductivity, and major ions composition. The dry deposition samples were analysed for ions and reactive gases. The average pH of rainwater was 5.17, below 5.6, the limiting value for clean rainwater. The dominant species were SO₄²⁻ and Cl⁻ in wet sample where SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻ were well correlated.  The buffering system to acidity was mainly due to Na⁺ and NH₄⁺ for wet deposition (rainwater). In dry deposition sample, NH₃ was the major component (50 %).   

 

Keywords:   Danum Valley,  wet deposition,  dry deposition,  conductivity,  buffering system

 

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