National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) Active
National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP)
NADP is a multi-partner atmospheric monitoring program that measures concentrations and deposition of atmospheric constituents across North America
The National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) is a multi-partner atmospheric monitoring program that measures the concentrations and deposition of atmospheric constituents across North America. The USGS has been an NADP partner agency since 1981 and participates by providing funds for 72 National Trend Network (NTN) sites.
Linking transit times to catchment sensitivity in western U.S.
Short transit times—the time between entry of a water molecule into the ground surface and when it exits the catchment—is a key reason why western U.S. high-elevation catchments are highly sensitive to atmospheric pollution and climate change.
Quick Links
The National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) monitors precipitation chemistry through five monitoring networks. USGS supports monitoring sites within the National Trends Network and the Mercury Deposition Network.
The National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) operates five monitoring networks for various constituents of which the National Trends Network (NTN) is the largest with 263 sites where the major ions in precipitation are measured weekly. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been an NADP partner agency since 1981 and participates by providing funds for 72 NTN sites.
► More about the NADP data, program, and networks
Data from the NADP networks are used to track trends and examine spatial patterns in atmospheric deposition of constituents that include nitrogen, sulfur, mercury, calcium, and others. Many of these constituents are naturally present in the atmosphere but also originate in part as air pollutant emissions from human activities such as from power plants and vehicles. Clean air policies implemented under the Clean Air Act, as part of global treaties, and by other regulations typically set targets for reducing emissions, which are tracked by NADP measurements. In this manner, there is a close link between science, policy, and management among NADP partners. The identical field sampling protocols and equipment and analyses by one laboratory using the same methods facilitates comparisons across sites and highlights the value of a multi-partner monitoring program.
Below are data or web applications associated with National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP).
Since 1985, the NADP has created annual gradient maps of precipitation-weighted mean concentrations and deposition for several different parameters.
Slider maps showing the 2018 to 1985 difference in concentrations and deposition for pH, sulfate, and nitrogen are linked below. You can use the slider to compare the two years side by side, or view either year in full.
Scientists use National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) data to investigate nitrogen sources to watersheds and estuaries, ecosystem effects of pollutant deposition, and results of implementation of clean air policies.
Atmospheric Deposition Program of the U.S. Geological Survey
Acid rain effects on Adirondack streams— Results from the 2003–05 Western Adirondack Stream Survey (the WASS Project)
Total mercury and methylmercury in Indiana streams, August 2004-September 2006
Comparison of Atmospheric Deposition Among Three Sites In and Near the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, Colorado, 2003-2005
Atmospheric Deposition and Surface-Water Chemistry in Mount Rainier and North Cascades National Parks, U.S.A., Water Years 2000 and 2005-2006
Mercury Deposition Network Site Operator Training for the System Blank and Blind Audit Programs
Summary of mercury and trace element results in precipitation from the Culpeper, Virginia, Mercury Deposition Network Site (VA-08), 2002-2006
Effects of forest harvesting on ecosystem health in the headwaters of the New York City Water Supply, Catskill Mountains, New York
Pesticides in air and rainwater in the midcontinental United States, 1995: Methods and data
Differences in phosphorus and nitrogen delivery to the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River Basin
Mercury in precipitation in Indiana, January 2004–December 2005
Assessment of Historical Water-Quality Data for National Park Units in the Rocky Mountain Network, Colorado and Montana, through 2004
Investigating atmospheric mercury with the U.S. Geological Survey Mobile Mercury Laboratory
- Overview
The National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) is a multi-partner atmospheric monitoring program that measures the concentrations and deposition of atmospheric constituents across North America. The USGS has been an NADP partner agency since 1981 and participates by providing funds for 72 National Trend Network (NTN) sites.
Linking transit times to catchment sensitivity in western U.S.Short transit times—the time between entry of a water molecule into the ground surface and when it exits the catchment—is a key reason why western U.S. high-elevation catchments are highly sensitive to atmospheric pollution and climate change.
Quick LinksThe National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) monitors precipitation chemistry through five monitoring networks. USGS supports monitoring sites within the National Trends Network and the Mercury Deposition Network.
The National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) operates five monitoring networks for various constituents of which the National Trends Network (NTN) is the largest with 263 sites where the major ions in precipitation are measured weekly. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been an NADP partner agency since 1981 and participates by providing funds for 72 NTN sites.
► More about the NADP data, program, and networks
Data from the NADP networks are used to track trends and examine spatial patterns in atmospheric deposition of constituents that include nitrogen, sulfur, mercury, calcium, and others. Many of these constituents are naturally present in the atmosphere but also originate in part as air pollutant emissions from human activities such as from power plants and vehicles. Clean air policies implemented under the Clean Air Act, as part of global treaties, and by other regulations typically set targets for reducing emissions, which are tracked by NADP measurements. In this manner, there is a close link between science, policy, and management among NADP partners. The identical field sampling protocols and equipment and analyses by one laboratory using the same methods facilitates comparisons across sites and highlights the value of a multi-partner monitoring program.
- Data
Below are data or web applications associated with National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP).
- Multimedia
Since 1985, the NADP has created annual gradient maps of precipitation-weighted mean concentrations and deposition for several different parameters.
Slider maps showing the 2018 to 1985 difference in concentrations and deposition for pH, sulfate, and nitrogen are linked below. You can use the slider to compare the two years side by side, or view either year in full.
- Publications
Scientists use National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) data to investigate nitrogen sources to watersheds and estuaries, ecosystem effects of pollutant deposition, and results of implementation of clean air policies.
Atmospheric Deposition Program of the U.S. Geological Survey
No abstract available.AuthorsMark A. NillesFilter Total Items: 151Acid rain effects on Adirondack streams— Results from the 2003–05 Western Adirondack Stream Survey (the WASS Project)
Traditionally lakes have been the focus of acid rain assessments in the Adirondack region of New York. However, there is a growing recognition of the importance of streams as environmental indicators. Streams, like lakes, also provide important aquatic habitat, but streams more closely reflect acid rain effects on soils and forests and are more prone to acidification than lakes. Therefore, a largeAuthorsGregory B. Lawrence, Karen M. Roy, Barry P. Baldigo, Howard A. Simonin, Sophia I. Passy, Robert W. Bode, Susan B. CaponeTotal mercury and methylmercury in Indiana streams, August 2004-September 2006
Total mercury and methylmercury were determined by use of low (subnanogram per liter) level analytical methods in 225 representative water samples collected following ultraclean protocols at 25 Indiana monitoring stations in a statewide network, on a seasonal schedule, August 2004-September 2006. The highest unfiltered total mercury concentrations were at six monitoring stations - five that are doAuthorsAmanda L. Ulberg, Martin R. RischComparison of Atmospheric Deposition Among Three Sites In and Near the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, Colorado, 2003-2005
Atmospheric deposition was monitored for ammonium, nitrate, and sulfate concentrations and precipitation amounts in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area of northwestern Colorado at Ned Wilson Lake beginning in 1984 to detect changes that might result from future emissions associated with development of oil-shale resources in northwestern Colorado. Renewed monitoring, by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooAuthorsGeorge P. Ingersoll, Donald H. Campbell, Alisa MastAtmospheric Deposition and Surface-Water Chemistry in Mount Rainier and North Cascades National Parks, U.S.A., Water Years 2000 and 2005-2006
High-elevation aquatic ecosystems in Mount Rainier and North Cascades National Parks are highly sensitive to atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and sulfur. Thin, rocky soils promote fast hydrologic flushing rates during snowmelt and rain events, limiting the ability of basins to neutralize acidity and assimilate nitrogen deposited from the atmosphere. Potential effects of nitrogen and sulfur deposAuthorsDavid W. Clow, Donald H. CampbellMercury Deposition Network Site Operator Training for the System Blank and Blind Audit Programs
The U.S. Geological Survey operates the external quality assurance project for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program/Mercury Deposition Network. The project includes the system blank and blind audit programs for assessment of total mercury concentration data quality for wet-deposition samples. This presentation was prepared to train new site operators and to refresh experienced site operatorAuthorsGregory A. Wetherbee, Christopher M.B. LehmannSummary of mercury and trace element results in precipitation from the Culpeper, Virginia, Mercury Deposition Network Site (VA-08), 2002-2006
The VA-08 Mercury Deposition Network (MDN) site, southwest of Culpeper, Virginia, was established in autumn of 2002. This site, along with nearby VA-28 (~31 km west) at Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park, fills a spatial gap in the Mid-Atlantic region of the MDN network and provides Hg deposition data immediately west of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Results for the Culpeper site fAuthorsMark A. Engle, Allan Kolker, Douglas E. Mose, Joseph A. East, Jamey D. McCordEffects of forest harvesting on ecosystem health in the headwaters of the New York City Water Supply, Catskill Mountains, New York
The effects of forest clearcutting and selective harvesting on forest soils, soil and stream water chemistry, forest regrowth, and aquatic communities were studied in four small headwater catchments. This research was conducted to identify the sensitivity of forested ecosystems to forest disturbance in the northeastern United States. The study area was in the headwaters of the Neversink ReservoirAuthorsMichael R. McHale, Peter S. Murdoch, Douglas A. Burns, Barry P. BaldigoPesticides in air and rainwater in the midcontinental United States, 1995: Methods and data
Weekly composite high-volume air and wet-only deposition samples were collected from April through September 1995 at paired urban and agricultural areas in Mississippi, Iowa, and Minnesota, and at a background site in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This report describes the methods used to collect, analyze, and quality assure the samples, and presents the results of all chemical analyses and qualityAuthorsMichael S. Majewski, William T. Foreman, Richard H. Coupe, Donald A. Goolsby, Frank W. WiebeDifferences in phosphorus and nitrogen delivery to the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River Basin
Seasonal hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico has been linked to increased nitrogen fluxes from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya River Basins, though recent evidence shows that phosphorus also influences productivity in the Gulf. We developed a spatially explicit and structurally detailed SPARROW water-quality model that reveals important differences in the sources and transport processes that coAuthorsR. B. Alexander, R. A. Smith, G. E. Schwarz, E. W. Boyer, J.V. Nolan, J. W. BrakebillMercury in precipitation in Indiana, January 2004–December 2005
Mercury in precipitation was monitored during 2004–2005 at five locations in Indiana as part of the National Atmospheric Deposition Program–Mercury Deposition Network (NADP–MDN). Monitoring stations were operated at Roush Lake near Huntington, Clifty Falls State Park near Madison, Fort Harrison State Park near Indianapolis, Monroe County Regional Airport near Bloomington, and Indiana Dunes NationaAuthorsMartin R. Risch, Kathleen K. FowlerAssessment of Historical Water-Quality Data for National Park Units in the Rocky Mountain Network, Colorado and Montana, through 2004
This report summarizes historical water-quality data for six National Park units that compose the Rocky Mountain Network. The park units in Colorado are Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, and Rocky Mountain National Park; and in Montana, they are Glacier National Park, Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, and Little Bighorn Battlefield NatioAuthorsAlisa MastInvestigating atmospheric mercury with the U.S. Geological Survey Mobile Mercury Laboratory
Atmospheric mercury is thought to be an important source of mercury present in fish, resulting in numerous local, statewide, tribal, and province-wide fish consumption advisories in the United States and Canada (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007a). To understand how mercury occurs in the atmosphere and its potential to be transferred from the atmosphere to the biosphere, the U.S. GeologicAuthorsAllan Kolker