Chlorine, bromine and iodine in monsoon rains in India.

Abstract

The mean concentrations of the halogens chlorine, bromine and iodine in a large number of rainwater supplies collected in India during the south-west monsoon at the west coast and at two sites on the hill range near the west coast are presented and discussed. The concentrations and ratios of these halogens in the rainwater samples compare very well with those previously observed in marine precipitation. There is no change in the Cl/Na ratios with collection altitude. Br shows a slight enrichment relative to Na at most of the sampling locations and a nominal depletion at one of the sites on the hills. Iodine enrichment is high at all sampling sites and the samples from the higher altitude station on the hills show the maximum enrichment. The study confirms that large deposition of sea-salt occurs along the west coast of India due to the monsoonal flow. - Authors