A further elaboration of the theme of the chemical composition of rainfall:
"What is a chemical salt recipe for 'typical' rainwater?
Rainwater gets its compositions largely by dissolving particulate
materials in the atmosphere (upper troposhere) when droplets of water
nucleate on atmospheric particulates, and secondarily by dissolving gasses
from the atmosphere. Rainwater compositions vary geographically.
In open ocean and coastal areas they have a salt content essentially like
that of sea water (same ionic proportions but much more dilute) plus CO2 as
bicarbonate anion (acidic pH).
Terrestrial rain compositions vary siginificantly from place to place
because the regional geology can greatly affect the types of particulates
that get added to the atmosphere. Likewise, sources of gaesous acids (SO3,
NO2) and bases (NH3) vary as a function of biome factors and anthopogenic
land use practices. Each of these gasses can be added in varying proportions
from natural and non natural input sources (non-natural sources of SO3 and
NO2 far outweigh natural ones). Particulate load to the atmosphere can also
be greatly affected by human activities. Finally, local climate (especially
the amount of precipitation in one area compared to another) will affect the
solute concentrations in terrestrial rainwaters. The result is highly
variable compositions, so there isn't one simple formula.
If you want to read up a bit on this and see data for rainwater from
many different locales globally, I suggest the book "Global Environment:
water air and geochemical cycles" by Berner and Berner (Prentice-Hall, 1996)
or a similar text "
"presley" wrote in message
...
Warren, you're not as informed as you think you are.
http://landresources.montana.edu/LRE...stry_Web.pd f
According to the site above, from University of Montana, the composition
of rainfall is nearly identical to seawater with some additional molecules
picked up in the atmosphere. Furthermore, rainfall is NEVER simple H20 -
because it also picks up many gases that are present in the atmosphere and
transports them.
However, more pertinent to the ongoing argument is the fact that strong
winds (as in hurricane or near-hurricane force winds) which Scotland is
subject to every year,send salt spray MILES inland - not a few feet, or
even a few hundred feet. This can be verified in any google search.
I think that the issue has been clouded by all this talk about what
hits the leaves of the plants. It is clear that the initial post had to do
with what happened at the ROOTS of the plants in question. It is VERY
evident that rhododendrons cannot have their roots soaked in salt water
that sits on them. Constant movement of water through the root zone will
wash the salts through them or out of them - but it has to be water that
is relatively low in salts, and the plants have to have excellent
drainage. A plant sitting in a low spot with salt water swirling around
its base is a goner - no question. A plant on a hillside hit with a
strong blast of very salty water but subsequently flushed with plenty of
water that moves through and out of the root zone will probably be fine.
Janet is not claiming that Scottish rhododendrons are living in salt
marshes. What she IS claiming is that they live in rather close proximity
to the sea in rather salty environments in Scotland - albeit in regions of
very high rainfall.
"Warren" wrote in message
...
Janet Baraclough wrote:
The rain, and wind, come from 300 miles of Atlantic ocean and are
heavily salt-laden.
Next you'll be asserting water can be lit on fire! Salt is NOT
evaporated
into clouds & precipitation NEVER salinizes soils.
Wrong.
http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/env...#salt%20source
If what you got out of that page is that salt can be evaporated into the
clouds, and that rain in coastal areas contains salt, then we can clearly
see how little you understand about even the most simple science.
The bottom line is rhodies will not grow in a saline environment, no
matter how much you want to argue with the experts. And the gardens you
are using as proof that the experts are wrong all work hard to protect
their rhodies from the saline that could otherwise easily create
problems.
You can stop trying to be right. You can stop trying to prove that
accepted science is wrong. Every time you post, you demonstrate how
little you know, and how difficult of a time you have dealing with being
wrong. Save us all the pain of watching you dig yourself deeper and
deeper into your pit of humiliation. Stop now, because you obviously
don't have the temperament to deal with any further embarrassment.
--
Warren H.
==========
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Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is
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