Pan-European rural monitoring network shows dominance of NH.sub.3 gas and NH.sub.4NO.sub.3 aerosol in inorganic atmospheric pollution load

A comprehensive European dataset on monthly atmospheric NH.sub.3, acid gases (HNO.sub.3, SO.sub.2, HCl), and aerosols (NH4+, NO3-, SO42-, Cl.sup.-, Na.sup.+, Ca.sup.2+, Mg.sup.2+) is presented and analysed. Speciated measurements were made with a low-volume denuder and filter pack method (DEnuder for Long-Term Atmospheric sampling, DELTA.sup.®) as part of the EU NitroEurope (NEU) integrated project. Altogether, there were 64 sites in 20 countries (2006-2010), coordinated between seven European laboratories. Bulk wet-deposition measurements were carried out at 16 co-located sites (2008-2010). Inter-comparisons of chemical analysis and DELTA.sup.® measurements allowed an assessment of comparability between laboratories.