Precipitation of hydrogen peroxide during winter storms and summer typhoons

Abstract

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) affects the activity of microbes, including archaea, and thereby influences the biogeochemical cycles of critical elements in marine and terrestrial environments. In this study, we measured the levels of H₂O₂ associated with three classes of extreme wet precipitation events: winter storms, tropical storms, and typhoons. In conjunction with precipitation data, the measured H₂O₂ concentration in a seawater reservoir receiving precipitation was used to estimate rainwater H₂O₂ concentration and flux. The rainwater H₂O₂ concentration during winter storms and coexisting storms (storms having combined maritime and continental origins) was a factor of 2-3 higher than the levels observed during the typhoons. Fluxes of H₂O₂ in rainwater of 6 μM min^-1 or greater resulted in H₂O₂ concentrations ~1 μM in the seawater reservoir. During all precipitation events, the H₂O₂ concentration in the seawater reservoir was dominated by wet precipitation and reached levels greater than would be produced in situ by photochemical processes. During winter and coexisting storms, the rainwater H₂O₂ concentrations were likely to have been enhanced by atmospheric photochemical reactions probably involving pollutants. An increase in the H₂O₂ concentration in surface aqueous environments during extreme precipitation events will directly affect the microbial cycling of nitrogen and organic carbon.

Keywords: H(2)O(2); Hydrogen peroxide; Luminol chemiluminescence; Rainwater; Seawater; Sequential injection analysis.