The contribution of sulfate and desert aerosols to the acidification of clouds and rain in Israel

Measurements of the sulfate content in individual particles were carried out on top of a mountain in Northern Israel in order to determine the role played by acidic sulfate particles in changing the pH of cloud drops. The investigation was carried out during the passage of convective clouds over the station. Since these clouds developed in cold fronts originating from different air masses it was possible to determine the role of sulfate as well as desert particles in affecting the chemistry of cloud and raindrops. It was observed that the cloud droplets were frequently very acidic with the pH as low as 2.5. As the cloud droplets grew by condensation they became less acidic due to dilution. The presence of desert particles did not affect the pH of the cloud droplets since they remained as interstitial particles. However, once rain started the pH of the raindrops was found to be as high as 8.2. On these occasions the drops contained large amounts of dust indicating that the process of scavenging either by te cloud drops or by the falling melting graupels is very efficient. Sulfate concentrations in air containing large amounts of dust were found to be much higher than on days lacking dust aerosols. The source of these sulfate particles has not yet been identified.