Virginia Acid Precipitation Network-Program Information

Program Overview

The Virginia Acid Precipitation Network (VAPN) currently consists of three monitoring sites in the following areas: Page County, Occoquan, and Hampton.  As early as 1982, monitoring was conducted at seven other sites in the following areas: Chesterfield County, Fairfax County, Louisa County, Luray, Roanoke County, West Point, and Wise County.  The latitude/longitude coordinates for each site, and elevations for most sites, are as follows:

Site	Latitude	Longitude	Elevation (ft)
Occoquan	38°41' N	77°16' W	--
Roanoke	37°14' N	80°10' W	1371
West Point	37°31' N	76°46' W	26
Hampton	37°06' N	76°23' W	8
Chesterfield	37°21' N	77°34' W	--
Louisa	38°01' N	77°42' W	233
Luray	38°40' N	78°27' W	787
Wise	36°55' N	82°49' W	2220
Fairfax	38°59' N	77°18' W	410
Page Co. Massanutten	38°38' N	78°36' W	--
Petersburg	37°18' N	77°18' W	--
Rockbridge	37°37' N	79°30' W	--

In terms of equipment, the wet precipitation sample collector used at each primary monitoring site was the Aerochem Metrics Model 301 collector.  Precipitation totals deposited over the sampling period were measured with a Belfort recording rain gauge (Cat. No. 5-780).

Currently, samples are collected and analyzed on site for pH and conductivity every Tuesday, and then mailed to the Department of General Services, Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, Bureau of Chemistry, where the following chemical analyses are conducted: pH (laboratory), conductivity (laboratory), ammonium, chloride, bromide, nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate.  Note that prior to 1991, sample analysis was conducted by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

The Maryland PPRP performed a quality assurance (QA) analysis of the VAPN data for the years 1982-1997.  The results of this QA analysis are graphically depicted in the report provided on this web site (see Related Reports below).

Precipitation chemistry analyses data for metals--aluminum, arsenic, iron, manganese, nickel, lead, selenium, vanadium, and zinc--are given on this web site.   These measurements were made between 1983 and 1987 at 8 sites.

Related Reports

• A Summary of Wet Deposition Data Collected in the Virginia Acid Precipitation Network:  1982-1997, Prepared by the Maryland Power Plant Research Program, August 1998.

• Virginia Ambient Air Monitoring 2001 Data Report, Prepared by the Maryland Department of Environmental Quality.

• Commonwealth of Virginia Acid Precipitation Network Monitoring Program, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Richmond, Virginia.

• Virginia Acid Precipitation Network Analysis of Data from Luray, Prepared by O. Trivette, W. Keene, and J. Galloway, University of Virginia, June 2002.

• Virginia Acid Precipitation Network Analysis of Data from Hampton, Prepared by O. Trivette, W. Keene, and J. Galloway, University of Virginia, August 2001.

For further information on the VAPN monitoring program, e-mail Mr. Dan Salkovitz of the Virginia DEQ, or call him at 804-698-4404.

VAPN data are available upon request from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Air Division, Data Analysis Section, Richmond, Virginia.

Go to the Virginia Acid Precipitation Network-Precipitation Chemistry Data