§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Defence what measurements are taken by the Meteorological Office at weather stations of the acidity of rainfall collected in their rain gauges; and if, and where, such information is published.
§ Mr.PattieOrdinary rain gauges, being susceptible to contamination are unsuitable for measurement of the chemical composition of rainwater. However, as a contribution to the United Kingdom network, the Meteorological Office operates specially designed gauges at Bracknell, Eskdalemuir and Lerwick and samples from them are sent monthly for analysis by the Government Chemist.
Results from these sites for the period 1978 to 1980, earlier data for Eskdalemuir, and data from elsewhere in 214W the United Kingdom network, were published last December by the Warren Spring laboratory of the Department of Trade and Industry in a report entitled "Acid Rain Deposition in the United Kingdom", a copy of which is in the Library. Data from Eskdalemuir are also regularly contributed to the World Meteorological Organisation's background atmospheric pollution network and published in its annual data reports.