Feb., 1919] Ammonia and Nitrous Nitrogen in Rain Water 233 



and hydrogen peroxide. But instead, nitrites were found to the 

 extent of 0.0035 parts per million of rain water at the beginning 

 of a rainfall. 



The rainfall of August 25th-26th shows a gradual falling off 

 in nitrite content as the storm progressed, until towards the end 

 none was observed. The content in the rain gauge throughout 

 the storm is the average of that found at the beginning and at 

 the end, as well as the average of all five samples collected in 

 the funnels. It is also to be noted that the nitrite content had 

 again risen to the maximum in a quarter inch rainfall the very 

 next day, while the ammonia content still remained at a 

 minimum. 



One further peculiar circumstance was observed, in that, 

 on standing for about four hours in the Nessler tubes, the 

 reddish color produced in the samples of rain water faded out, 

 while those in the standard solution of creek water retained 

 their color. 



The observations made on the Bering Sea side of the 

 peninsular axis were quite irregular in the amount of ammonia 

 and nitrite found. The determinations were carried out at 

 Camp V in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, just at the 

 western entrance of Katmai Pass. When the wind blew from 

 over the Valley, the ammonia and nitrite content was relatively 

 high, while only traces were observed when the storm was 

 blowing into the Valley. The rainfall, when the wind blew 

 from over the Valley, also contained notable quantities of 

 chloride and sulphate, and at times was so strongly acid as 

 to make the eyeballs smart. Samples of rain water were col- 

 lected close to fumaroles, so that the rain fell through ascending 

 gases. Many of these gave so much ammonia that a heavy 

 yellow precipitate formed with Nessler's reagent. The quantity 

 of nitrous nitrogen was also greater than in an ordinary rainfall, 

 and one fumarole in particular gave a deep red color, indicating 

 the presence of considerable quantities of nitrites in the gaseous 

 emanation. Quantitative comparisons were not made excepting 

 in the cases when the storm was blowing into the Valley. 

 Here, as already stated, the ammonia and nitrite content 

 differed but little from that observed at Kashvik Bay. 



Water from melted snow was used for the standard 

 solutions. The drip from the snow bank was remarkably free 

 from ammonia and nitrites, although these were being poured 



