T he National Bureau of Standards' was established by an act of Congress on March 3, 1901. The Bureau's overall goal is to strengthen and advance the nation's science and technology and facilitate their effective application for public benefit. To this end, the Bureau conducts research and provides: (1) a basis for the nation's physical measurement system, (2) scientific and technological services for industry and government, (3) a technical basis for equity in trade, and (4) technical services to promote public safety. The Bureau's technical work is performed by the National Measurement Laboratory, the National Engineering Laboratory, the Institute for Computer Sciences and Technology, and the Institute for Materials Science and Engineering. The National Measurement Laboratory Provides the national system of physical and chemical measurement; coordinates the system with measurement systems of other nations and furnishes essential services leading to accurate and uniform physical and chemical measurement throughout the Nation's scientific community, industry, and commerce; provides advisory and research services to other Government agencies; conducts physical and chemical research; develops, produces, and distributes Standard Reference Materials; and provides calibration services. The Laboratory consists of the following centers: The National Engineering Laboratory Provides technology and technical services to the public and private sectors to address national needs and to solve national problems; conducts research in engineering and applied science in support of these efforts; builds and maintains competence in the necessary disciplines required to carry out this research and technical service; develops engineering data and measurement capabilities; provides engineering measurement traceability services; develops test methods and proposes engineering standards and code changes; develops and proposes new engineering practices; and develops and improves mechanisms to transfer results of its research to the ultimate user. The Laboratory consists of the following centers: The Institute for Computer Sciences and Technology Conducts research and provides scientific and technical services to aid The Institute for Materials Science and Engineering Conducts research and provides measurements, data, standards, reference materials, quantitative understanding and other technical information fundamental to the processing, structure, properties and performance of materials; addresses the scientific basis for new advanced materials technologies; plans research around cross-country scientific themes such as nondestructive evaluation and phase diagram development; oversees Bureau-wide technical programs in nuclear reactor radiation research and nondestructive evaluation; and broadly disseminates generic technical information resulting from its programs. The Institute consists of the following Divisions: 'Headquarters and Laboratories at Gaithersburg, MD, unless otherwise noted; mailing address Gaithersburg, MD 20899. 2Some divisions within the center are located at Boulder, CO 80303. Located at Boulder, CO, with some elements at Gaithersburg, MD. of the National Bureau of Standards Robert C. Paule, George Marinenko, Melissa Knoerdel, and William F. Koch.... 3 measurements in rainwater Ruggedness Testing-Part II: Recognizing Interactions Robert C. Paule, George Marinenko, Melissa Knoerdel, and William F. Koch 9 Effect of Variables on pH Measurement in Acid-Rain-Like Solutions as Determined George Marinenko, Robert C. Paule, William F. Koch, and Melissa Knoerdel Development of a Standard Reference Material for Rainwater Analysis ISSN 0160-1741 Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 63-37059 23 33 The Journal of Research of the National Bureau of Standards features advances in measurement methodology and analyses consistent with the NBS responsibility as the nation's measurement science laboratory. It includes reports on instrumentation for making accurate and precise measurements in fields of physical science and engineering, as well as the mathematical models of phenomena which enable the predictive determination of information in regions where measurements may be absent. Papers on critical data, calibration techniques, quality assurance programs, and well characterized reference materials reflect NBS programs in these areas. Special issues of the Journal are devoted to invited papers in a particular field of measurement science. Occasional survey articles and conference reports appear on topics related to the Bureau's technical and scientific programs. Hans J. Oser. Chief Editor Donald R. Johnson (Natl. Measurement Lab.) (Natl. Engineering Lab.) Board of Editors John W. Cooper (Physics) Howard J. M. Hanley Issued six times a year. Annual subscriptions: domestic $17.00; foreign $21.25. Single copy, $3.00 United States Government Printing Office, Washington: 1986 The Secretary of Commerce has determined that the publication of the periodical is necessary in the 90 26 306AA 013 XL 1449 FOREWORD By now virtually every technologist is aware that serious environmental consequences result from acidic rainfall. Indeed every American, aware or unaware, is impacted by its deleterious effects on our forests, lakes, lands, property, and personal health. Neither the technical nor political consequences stop at national borders. This is particularly the case in North America and in Europe; both, places where the problems with acid rain are being given serious attention. This issue of the NBS Journal of Research is devoted to the topic of measurement methods, Standard Reference Materials, and associated statistical considerations for effective analysis of rainwater. Such methods and standards are essential to accurate assessment of current environmental conditions and will be needed in the future to assess trends that result from corrective measures. It goes almost without saying that equitable regulation will only be possible with fair (accurate) measurement. We think it is important to note that the authors of this issue, Drs. Koch, Marinenko and Paule, and Ms. Knoerdel, are all from NBS. Because NBS has no regulatory role, the work they report here is free from any particular pressure to favor the regulator or regulated. The authors, together with more than a dozen of their colleagues in the Center for Analytical Chemistry, have provided an excellent measurement benchmark in SRM 2694, Simulated Rainwater. However, their contributions on the problem of acid rain extend beyond those described in this issue. The Center also makes available to the measurement community several Standard Reference Materials of coal and oil, certified for sulfur content, an important precursor to acid rain. We commend this issue to every reader concerned with the assessment of acidic rainfall. Harry S. Hertz Director, Center for Analytical Chemistry Stanley D. Rasberry Chief, Office of Standard Reference Materials |