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Updated operational protocols for the U.S. Geological Survey Precipitation Chemistry Quality Assurance Project in support of the National Atmospheric Deposition Program

Open-File Report 2016-1213
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161213

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Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Quality Systems operates the Precipitation Chemistry Quality Assurance Project (PCQA) for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network (NADP/NTN) and National Atmospheric Deposition Program/Mercury Deposition Network (NADP/MDN). Since 1978, various programs have been implemented by the PCQA to estimate data variability and bias contributed by changing protocols, equipment, and sample submission schemes within NADP networks. These programs independently measure the field and laboratory components which contribute to the overall variability of NADP wet-deposition chemistry and precipitation depth measurements. The PCQA evaluates the quality of analyte-specific chemical analyses from the two, currently (2016) contracted NADP laboratories, Central Analytical Laboratory and Mercury Analytical Laboratory, by comparing laboratory performance among participating national and international laboratories. Sample contamination and stability are evaluated for NTN and MDN by using externally field-processed blank samples provided by the Branch of Quality Systems. A colocated sampler program evaluates the overall variability of NTN measurements and bias between dissimilar precipitation gages and sample collectors.

This report documents historical PCQA operations and general procedures for each of the external quality-assurance programs from 2007 to 2016.

Suggested Citation

Wetherbee, G.A., and Martin, RoseAnn, 2017, Updated operational protocols for the U.S. Geological Survey Precipitation Chemistry Quality Assurance Project in support of the National Atmospheric Deposition Program: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2016–1213, 18 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161213.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Background
  • Field Quality-Assurance Programs
  • Interlaboratory-Comparison Programs
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Updated operational protocols for the U.S. Geological Survey Precipitation Chemistry Quality Assurance Project in support of the National Atmospheric Deposition Program
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2016-1213
DOI 10.3133/ofr20161213
Year Published 2017
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Branch of Quality Systems
Description v, 18 p.
Country Argentina, Canada, Puerto Rico, United States
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details