Publications—Open-File Report 01–259
By John A. Colman, Karen C. Rice, and Timothy C. Willoughby
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 01–259
Prepared in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration. A Contribution to the National Highway Runoff Data and Methodology Synthesis.
ONLINE ONLY
This report is available in Portable Document Format (PDF):
OFR 01–259 (1,789 KB) – 74
pages
Atmospheric deposition and the processes
that are involved in causing and altering atmospheric
deposition in relation to highway surfaces
and runoff were evaluated nationwide. Wet deposition
is more easily monitored than dry deposition,
and data on wet deposition are available for major
elements and water properties (constituents
affecting acid deposition) from the inter-agency
National Atmospheric Deposition Program/
National Trends Network (NADP/NTN). Many
trace constituents (metals and organic compounds)
of interest in highway runoff loads, however, are
not included in the NADP/NTN. Dry deposition,
which constitutes a large part of total atmospheric
deposition for many constituents in highway
runoff loads, is difficult to monitor accurately.
Dry-deposition rates are not widely available.
Many of the highway-runoff investigations
that have addressed atmospheric-deposition
sources have had flawed investigative designs or
problems with methodology. Some results may be
incorrect because of reliance on time-aggregated
data collected during a period of changing atmospheric
emissions. None of the investigations used
methods that could accurately quantify the part
of highway runoff load that can be attributed to
ambient atmospheric deposition. Lack of information
about accurate ambient deposition rates and
runoff loads was part of the problem. Samples
collected to compute the rates and loads were
collected without clean-sampling methods or sampler
protocols, and without quality-assurance
procedures that could validate the data. Massbudget
calculations comparing deposition and
runoff did not consider loss of deposited material
during on-highway processing. Loss of deposited
particles from highway travel lanes could be
large, as has been determined in labeled particle
studies, because of resuspension caused by turbulence
from passing traffic. Although a cause of
resuspension of large particles, traffic turbulence
may increase the rate of deposition for small particles
and gases by impaction, especially during
precipitation periods.
Ultimately, traffic and road maintenance
may be determined to be the source of many constituents
measured in highway runoff previously
attributed to ambient atmospheric deposition. An
investigative design using tracers of ambient deposition
that are not present in highway traffic
sources could determine conclusively what fraction
of highway runoff load is contributed by
ambient atmospheric deposition.
Abstract
Introduction
Forms of Deposition and Post-Depositional Transport
Wet Deposition
Dry Deposition
Saltation and Resuspension
Data from Existing Monitoring Programs
Major Inorganic Constituents and Water-Quality Properties
Sources, Importance, and Chemistry
Character of Deposition Data
Uses In Highway-Runoff Investigations
Trace Metals and Cyanide
Sources, Importance, and Chemistry
Character of Deposition Data
Uses in Highway-Runoff Investigations
Organic Compounds
Sources, Importance, and Chemistry
Character of Deposition Data
Uses in Highway-Runoff Investigations
Review of Articles on Atmospheric Sources for Highway Runoff
Comparison of Traffic-Related and Ambient Atmospheric-Deposition Sources
Deposition Rates and Highway Proximity
Mass Balance
Regression Models of Federal Highway Administration Data
On-Highway Processing
Quality Assurance
Strategies and Methods for Future Investigations
Particle Size and Sources
Investigative Design
Tracers of Atmospheric Deposition
Appropriate Network for Data Collection
Site Selection for Sampler Placement
Duration and Frequency of Data Collection
Ancillary Data Requirements
Collector Type and Installation
Wet-Deposition Collectors
Dust Buckets and Bulk Collectors
Impactor Samplers and Standard-Surface Collectors
Quality Assurance
Field-Data Collection
Laboratory Analysis
Summary and Conclusions
References Cited
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Suggested Citation:
Colman, J.A., Rice, K.C., and Willoughby, T.C., 2001, Methodology and significance
of studies of atmospheric deposition in highway runoff: U.S. Geological Survey
Open-File Report 01-259, 63 p.
For additional information write to:
Director,
USGS Massachusetts–Rhode Island Water Science Center
10 Bearfoot Road
Northborough, MA 01532or visit our Web site at:
http://ma.water.usgs.gov
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