Scientific Results of the Katmai Expeditions of the 

 National Geographic Society. 



VII. AMMONIA AND NITROUS NITROGEN IN THE 

 RAIN WATER OF SOUTHWESTERN ALASKA. 



J. W. Shipley, 

 Chemist of the 1917 Expedition. 



While engaged in the work of the 1917 Katmai Expedition 

 of the National Geographic Society, directed by Dr. R. F. 

 Griggs, opportunity was afforded for making observations 

 on the ammonia and nitrite content in the rainfall of Katmai 

 and adjacent districts. Determinations were made on the 

 Bering Sea side of the peninsular axis, on the Pacific slope, 

 and on Kodiak Island, 100 miles to the eastward. The 

 most extended series of observations was made at our Base 

 Camp on Kashvik Bay, during a very rainy period from August 

 19th to August 27th. This constitutes the major part of the 

 work done and the results, together with those of Kodiak 

 Island, are to be found in the accompanying Table. Kashvik 

 Bay is on Shelikof Strait, about 25 miles due south of 

 Katmai Volcano and the same distance southeast from the 

 Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. 



The chemical reagents, brought with the expedition for 

 determining ammonia and nitrites in the volcanic ash, were 

 equally well adapted for measuring the same nitrogen bearing 

 compounds in rain water. Ammonia was determined by color 

 comparison with Nessler's reagent, using a standard solution of 

 ammonium chloride. The nitrites were compared with a 

 standard solution of sodium nitrite through Greiss's reagent, (a 

 naphthylemine and sulphanilic acid). These solutions were 

 prepared according to the A. P. H. A. Standard methods of 

 Water Analysis. On returning from the expedition the standard 

 solutions were compared with freshly prepared solutions of the 

 same salts, using the reagents brought back from Alaska. The 

 NH4CI proved to be unchanged, but the NaN02 had decom- 

 posed 50%. A sample of the same nitrite solution, as taken on 

 the expedition, but left in a dark cupboard in the laboratory, 

 had also decomposed to the same degree. The solutions were 



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