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A study was made of the mineral composition of individual rainfalls at Prince William National Forest Park, Virginia. Data are presented showing variations in the composition of rainfall during the course of six separate storms. The data support the theory that much of the SO4−− in rainfall is formed from the oxidation of SO2 in cloud droplets. It is suggested that atmospheric NO2, acting as a catalyst, is very important in this reaction. The data indicate that SO4−−, NO3−, and NH4+ in rainfall are derived primarily from gaseous constituents of the atmosphere. The origin of NO3− in thunderstorm rainfall is discussed and evidence is given to show that the role of lightning is almost certainly unimportant.
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Gambell et al. (1964) studied this question.
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