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
Uses of National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network data for science education and environmental problem solving, November 27, 1995 to February 10, 1997
External quality-assurance results for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network during 1994
Nitrogen fluxes in a high elevation Colorado Rocky Mountain basin
Hydrologic and water-quality data for two small watersheds on Catoctin Mountain, North-Central Maryland, 1987-93
Hydrologic and geochemical factors affecting the chemistry of small headwater streams in response to acidic deposition on Catoctin Mountain, north-central Maryland
Trends in precipitation chemistry in the United States, 1983-94; an analysis of the effects of Phase I of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, Title IV
U.S. Geological Survey Nitrogen-Cycling Workshop: Denver, Colorado October 30 - November 2, 1995
Snowpack chemistry at selected sites in northwestern Colorado during spring 1995
Trends in the chemistry of precipitation and surface water in a national network of small watersheds
External quality-assurance results for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network during 1991
Pesticides in the atmosphere; distribution, trends, and governing factors
- 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: 151Uses of National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network data for science education and environmental problem solving, November 27, 1995 to February 10, 1997
No abstract available.AuthorsM.A. Nilles, J.D. Gordon, C.J. Litteral, Gary Lear, Cathy CopelandExternal quality-assurance results for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network during 1994
No abstract available.AuthorsJ.D. Gordon, M.A. Nilles, D.K. Polascek, M.E. RatcliffNitrogen fluxes in a high elevation Colorado Rocky Mountain basin
Measured, calculated and simulated values were combined to develop an annual nitrogen budget for Loch Vale Watershed (LVWS) in the Colorado Front Range. Nine-year average wet nitrogen deposition values were 1·6 (s=0·36) kg NO3-N ha−1, and 1·0 (s=0·3) kg NH4-N ha−1. Assuming dry nitrogen deposition to be half that of measured wet deposition, this high elevation watershed receives 3·9 kg N ha−1. AltAuthorsJill Baron, K. CampbellHydrologic and water-quality data for two small watersheds on Catoctin Mountain, North-Central Maryland, 1987-93
Hydrologic and water-quality data were collected from a precipitation-collection station and from two small watersheds on Catoctin Mountain, north-central Maryland, as part of investigations of acidic deposition and episodic acidification, and their effects on streamwater quality. Detailed descriptions of the site instrumentation in the watersheds, field data-collection techniques, and laboratoryAuthorsKaren C. Rice, Margaret M. Kennedy, Christiana A. Carter, Robert T. Anderson, Owen P. BrickerHydrologic and geochemical factors affecting the chemistry of small headwater streams in response to acidic deposition on Catoctin Mountain, north-central Maryland
Hydrologic and water-quality data were collected at a precipitation-collection station and from two small watersheds on Catoctin Mountain, north- central Maryland, as part of an investigation of episodic acidification and its effects on streamwater quality. Data were collected from June 1990 through December 1993. Descriptions of the water shed instrumentation, data-collection techniques, and laboAuthorsKaren C. Rice, Owen P. BrickerTrends in precipitation chemistry in the United States, 1983-94; an analysis of the effects of Phase I of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, Title IV
No abstract available.AuthorsJ.A. Lynch, V.C. Bowersox, J.W. GrimmU.S. Geological Survey Nitrogen-Cycling Workshop: Denver, Colorado October 30 - November 2, 1995
No abstract available.AuthorsFrank J. TriskaSnowpack chemistry at selected sites in northwestern Colorado during spring 1995
Samples of the alpine and subalpine snowpack were collected in and near the headwater basins of the Yampa River in northwestern Colorado during maximum annual accumulation of snowpack in spring 1995. Sampling protocol at seven selected sites at more than 2,500 meters above sea level divided the snowpack into two distinct strata to enable separate chemical analyses of upper and lower layers of theAuthorsG.P. IngersollTrends in the chemistry of precipitation and surface water in a national network of small watersheds
Trends in precipitation and surface water chemistry at a network of 15 small watersheds ( < 10 km2) in the USA were evaluated using a statistical test for monotonic trends (the seasonal Kendall test) and a graphical smoothing technique for the visual identification of trends. Composite precipitation samples were collected weekly and surface water samples were collected at least monthly. ConcentratAuthorsBrent T. Aulenbach, R. P. Hooper, O.P. BrickerExternal quality-assurance results for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network during 1991
The U.S. Geological Survey used four programs in 1991 to provide external quality assurance for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network (NADP/NTN). An intersite-comparison program was used to evaluate onsite pH and specific-conductance determinations. The effects of routine sample handling, processing, and shipping of wet-deposition samples on analyte determinations andAuthorsM.A. Nilles, J.D. Gordon, L.J. Schroder, C.E. PaulinPesticides in the atmosphere; distribution, trends, and governing factors
A comprehensive review of existing literature on the occurrence and distribution of pesticides in the atmosphere of the United States and adjoining Canadian provinces showed that the atmosphere is an important part of the hydrologic cycle that acts to distribute and deposit pesticides in areas far removed from their application sites. A compilation of existing data shows that pesticides have beenAuthorsMichael S. Majewski, Paul D. Capel