Ionic composition and pH of rainwater in Portoviejo, Ecuador
This research evaluated the chemistry of rainfall in Portoviejo, Manabí (Ecuador) by measuring pH and theconcentrations of Na+, Ca²+, Mg²+, and K+ ions. Samples were collected in two urban areas with different human-modified environments (Ciudadela Los Pinos and Barrio San Pablo) using handheld col...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | , , |
| Format: | article |
| Language: | spa |
| Published: |
2025
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://revistasespam.espam.edu.ec/index.php/Revista_ESPAMCIENCIA/article/view/584 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Add Tag | Summary: | This research evaluated the chemistry of rainfall in Portoviejo, Manabí (Ecuador) by measuring pH and theconcentrations of Na+, Ca²+, Mg²+, and K+ ions. Samples were collected in two urban areas with different human-modified environments (Ciudadela Los Pinos and Barrio San Pablo) using handheld collectors, at a height of 1 m above the ground, during 2023 and 2024. After each collection event, the volume and pH were measured, and the samples were preserved with HNO3. Ionic concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), a sensitive and accurate technique. The pH of the rain ranged from 5.0 to 6.5, indicating slight acidity to moderate alkalinity, consistent with the typicalneutralization of coastal environments. A positive correlation was observed between rainfall volume and pH,suggesting that more intense events tended to have a more alkaline pH, possibly due to greater dilution and neutralization. In the ionic profile, Na+, Ca²+, and Mg²+ showed the highest concentrations, influenced by marine and crustal aerosols (calcareous rocks), as well as human activities such as traffic and population density. Between 2023 and 2024, an increase in the concentrations of Na+, Ca²+, and Mg²+ was recorded, attributable to variations in the sources and/or atmospheric conditions (seasonality, resuspension). The results reinforce the usefulness of continuous rainfall monitoring as an integrated indicator of natural processes and anthropogenic pressures, and provide a baseline for assessing local environmental trends and risks. |
|---|