Gaseous mercury from curing concretes that contain fly ash: laboratory measurements

Total gaseous mercury in headspace air was measured for enclosed concretes dry curing at 40 degrees C for intervals of 2, 28, and 56 days. Release of mercury was confirmed for ordinary Portland cement concrete (OPC) and three concretes in which class F fly ash substituted for a fraction of the cement: (a) 33% fly ash (FA33), (b) 55% fly ash (FA55), and (c) 33% fly ash plus 0.5% mercury-loaded powdered activated carbon (HgPAC). Mean rates of mercury release (0.10-0.43 ng/day per kg of concrete) over the standard first 28 days of curing followed the order OPC < FA33 approximately FA55 < HgPAC. The mercury flux from exposed surfaces of these concretes ranged from 1.9 +/- 0.5 to 8.1 +/-2.0 ng/m(2)/h, values similar to the average flux for multiple natural substrates in Nevada, 4.2 +/- 1.4 ng/m(2)/h, recently published by others. Air sampling extending for 28 days beyond the initial 28-day maturation for OPC, FA55, and HgPAC suggested that the average Hg release rate by OPC is constant over 56 days and that mercury release rates for FA55 and HgPAC may ultimately diminish to levels exhibited by OPC concrete. The release of mercury from all samples was less than 0.1% of total mercury content over the initial curing period, implying that nearly all of the mercury was retained in the concrete.     

Assessing the potential for re-emission of mercury deposited in precipitation from arid soils using a stable isotope

A solution containing 198Hg in the form of HgCl2 was added to a 4 m2 area of desert soils in Nevada, and soil Hg fluxes were measured using three dynamic flux chambers. There was an immediate release of 198Hg after it was applied, and then emissions decreased exponentially. Within the first 6 h after the isotope was added to the soil, approximately 12 ng m(-2) of 198Hg was emitted to the atmosphere, followed by a relatively steady flux of the isotope at 0.2 +/- 0.2 ng m(-2) h(-1) for the remainder of the experiment (62 days). Over this time, approximately 200 ng m(-2) or 2% of the 198Hg isotope was emitted from the soil, and we estimate that approximately 6% of the isotope would be re-emitted in a year's time. During the experiment, dry deposition of elemental Hg from the atmosphere was measured with an average deposition rate of 0.2 +/- 0.1 ng m(-2) h(-1). Emission of ambient Hg from the soil was observed after soil wetting with the isotope solution and after a storm event. However, the added moisture from the storm event did not affect 198Hg flux. Results suggest that in this desert environment, where there is limited precipitation, Hg deposited by wet processes is not readily re-emitted and that dry deposition of elemental Hg may be an important process.     

Estimation of dry deposition of atmospheric mercury in Nevada by direct and indirect methods

Atmospheric models and limited measurements indicate that dry deposition of atmospheric mercury is an important process by which mercury is input to ecosystems. To begin to fill the measurement data gap, multiple methods were used simultaneously during seasonal campaigns conducted in 2005 and 2006 to estimate dry deposition of atmospheric mercury at two Mercury Deposition Network (MDN) sites in rural Nevada and in Reno, Nevada. Gaseous elemental mercury (Hg0), reactive gaseous mercury (RGM), and particulate-bound mercury (Hgp) concentrations were measured using Tekran 2537A/1130/ 1135 systems. These speciated measurements were combined with on-site meteorological measurements to estimate depositional fluxes of RGM and Hgp using dry deposition models. Modeled fluxes were compared with more direct measurements obtained using polysulfone cation-exchange membranes and foliar surfaces. Dynamic flux chambers were used to measure soil mercury exchange. RGM concentrations were higher during warmer months at all sites, leading to seasonal variation in the modeled importance of RGM as a component of total depositional load. The ratio of dry to wet deposition was between 10 and 90%, and varied with season and with the methods used for dry deposition approximations. This work illustrates the variability of mercury dry deposition with location and time and highlights the need for direct dry deposition measurements.     

Variability of the gaseous elemental mercury sea-air flux of the Baltic Sea

The importance of the sea as a sink for atmospheric mercury has been established quantitatively through models based on wet and dry deposition data, but little is known about the release of mercury from sea areas. The concentration of elemental mercury (Hg0) in sea surface water and in the marine atmosphere of the Baltic Sea was measured at high spatial resolution in February, April, July, and November 2006. Wind-speed records and the gas-exchange transfer velocity were then used to calculate Hg0 sea-air fluxes on the basis of Hg0 sea-air concentration differences. Our results show that the spatial resolution of the surface water Hg0 data can be significantly improved by continuous measurements of Hg0 in air equilibrated with water instead of quantitative extraction of Hg0 from seawater samples. A spatial and highly seasonal variability of the Hg0 sea-air flux was thus determined. In winter, the flux was low and changed in direction. In summer, a strong emission flux of up to 150 ng m(-2) day(-1) in the central Baltic Sea was recorded. The total emission of Hg0 from the studied area (235000 km2) was 4300 +/- 1600 kg in 2006 and exceeded deposition estimates.     

Atmospheric mercury emissions and speciation at the sulphur bank mercury mine superfund site, Northern California

One pathway for release of mercury (Hg) from naturally enriched sites is emission to the atmosphere. Elemental Hg, when emitted, will enter the global atmospheric pool. In contrast, if reactive gaseous Hg or Hg2+ (as HgCl2, HgBr2, or HgOH2) is formed, it will most likely be deposited locally. This study focused on the measurement of elemental Hg flux and reactive gaseous Hg concentrations at the Sulphur Bank Superfund Site, an area of natural Hg enrichment with anthropogenic disturbance and ongoing geothermal activity. Mean Hg emissions ranged from 14 to 11000 ng m(-2) h(-1), with the highest emissions from anthropogenically disturbed materials. Reactive gaseous Hg concentrations were the highest ever reported for a natural setting (0.3-76 ng m(-3)). Measured Hg fluxes were used within a Geographic Information System to estimate mercury releases to the atmosphere from the site. Results indicated approximately 17 kg of Hg y(-1) of is emitted to the atmosphere from the 3.8 km2 area, with half from mine waste, ore, and tailing piles and half from relatively undisturbed naturally enriched substrate.     

Canopy level fluxes of 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, acetone, and methanol by a portable relaxed eddy accumulation system

Canopy level flux measurements of 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol (MBO), acetone, and methanol were made over a subalpine forest in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado in the summer of 1999. The measurements were carried out using a portable relaxed eddy accumulation system that collected samples on adsorbent cartridges. Midday fluxes of acetone were highest at approximately 2.5 mg of C m-2 h-1. Methanol and MBO fluxes were approximately 1.0 mg of C m-2 h-1 each. These fluxes occurred with average daytime high temperatures of only 18 degrees C. Diurnal fluxes of MBO were strongly correlated with light and temperature. Acetone and methanol did not have simple diurnal patterns. These results indicate that oxygenated volatile organic compounds may make a significant contribution to the flux of reactive carbon to the atmosphere in western U.S. pine forests.     

Mercury speciation in piscivorous fish from mining-impacted reservoirs

Guadalupe Reservoir (GUA), California, and Lahontan Reservoir (LAH), Nevada, U.S. are both affected either directly or indirectly by the legacy of gold and silver mining in the Sierra Nevada during the nineteenth century. Analysis of total mercury in fish from these lentic systems consistently indicate elevated concentrations (>1 microg x g(-1) wet weight; hereinafter, all concentrations are reported as wet weight unless indicated otherwise) well above the U.S. Environmenal Protection Agency's human consumption advisory level for fish (<0.3 microg x g(-1)). Replicate X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) analyses on largemouth bass and hybrid striped bass from GUA and LAH were performed to determine predominant chemical species of mercury accumulated by these high-trophic-level piscivores that are exposed to elevated mercury through trophic transfer in mining-impacted lentic systems. Despite distinct differences in mercury source, the proximity of the source, and concentrations of complexing ligands, results of XANES analysis clearly indicated that mercury accumulated in these individual fish from the two reservoirs were dominated by methylmercury cysteine complexes. These findings are consistent with results from commercial fish species inhabiting marine environments which are presumed to include differing mercury sources (e.g., atmospheric, hydrothermal, or benthic). The dominance of methylmercury cysteine complexes in muscle tissues of fish obtained from such contrasting environments and exposure conditions suggests that a generic toxicological model for the consumption of fish could be applicable over a wide range of ecologic settings.     

Foliar mercury accumulation and exchange for three tree species

The goals of this study were to (1) investigate plant mercury (Hg) uptake using different air and soil Hg concentrations near natural background values for three tree species, and (2) test if measured foliar Hg fluxes could explain observed foliar Hg concentrations. Plants were exposed to three soil treatments (<0.01, 0.09 +/- 0.02, and 0.92 +/- 0.27 microg Hg g(-1)), and to three atmospheric exposure concentrations (5.9 +/- 2.3, 14.3 +/- 2.7, and 30.1 +/- 3.5 ng Hg m(-3)). Foliar Hg concentrations were found to be influenced primarily by atmospheric Hg concentrations and to a lesser extent by soil Hg exposures. Data indicated that deciduous species might play a more active role in ecosystem Hg cycling than evergreen trees. Foliar mercury fluxes quantified using a dynamic single-plant gas-exchange chamber for two species were variable and accumulation rates were lower than those predicted based on foliar Hg concentrations. A hypothesis to explain this discrepancy is that the plant gas-exchange chamber measures net flux which includes emission, deposition, adsorption, and reemission of Hg at the leaf surface, while total foliar accumulation represents only deposition and assimilation.     

Mercury emissions from cement-stabilized dredged material

Upland placement of dredged materials from navigation channels in the New York/New Jersey Harbor is currently being used to manage sediments deemed inappropriate for open water disposal. Although upland placement sites are equipped with engineering controls (leachate collection and/or barrier walls), little is known of the potential impacts of this approach to air quality. The aim of this study was to estimate the flux of mercury to the atmosphere from New York/New Jersey Harbor stabilized dredged material (SDM) that was used for land reclamation at a site in northeastern New Jersey. Total gaseous mercury (TGM) was measured at a site receiving SDM in August and October 2001 and May and November 2002. TGM was also monitored at an urban reference site 3.5 km west of the SDM site in September 2001 and from February 2002 to July 2002 and from October 2002 to February 2003. The concentration of TGM at the urban reference site averaged 2.2 +/- 1.1 ng m(-3), indicating some local contribution to the Northern Hemisphere background. TGM concentrations exhibited seasonality with the highest values in summer (3.3 +/- 2.1 ng m(-3) in June 2002) and the lowest in winter (1.7 +/- 0.6 ng m(-3) in January 2003). TGM concentrations at the SDM placement site ranged from 2 to 7 ng m(-3) and were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than those at the urban reference site. Sediment-air fluxes of Hg at the SDM placement site estimated by the micrometeorological technique ranged from -13 to 1040 ng m(-2) h(-1) (sediment to air fluxes being positive) and were significantly correlated to solar radiation (r2 = 0.81). The estimated contribution of Hg emissions from land-applied SDM to local TGM concentrations was found to be negligible (<4%). However, the estimated annual volatilization rate of TGM atthe SDM site (130 kg y(-1))was comparable to those of other industrial sources in New Jersey (140-450 kg y(-1)).     

Milwaukee, WI, as a source of atmospheric PCBs to Lake Michigan

A field study of atmospheric PCBs in Milwaukee, WI, U.S.A. was conducted on the shore of Lake Michigan. We believe this is the first report of atmospheric PCBs in Milwaukee, although PCBs are well-known to contaminate the sediments of the Milwaukee River and Outer Harbor. Concentrations of PCBs collected during the June 2001 study are similar to concentrations in other urban-industrial areas and higher than PCBs in background air. The average sigmaPCB (sum of 88 congener groups) gas-phase concentration in Milwaukee was 1.9 ng m(-3)+/-standard deviation 0.78 ng m(-3). The average and standard deviation for the particulate-associated PCBs are 0.05+/-0.02 ng m(-3). Particulate-phase PCBs account for less than 5% of the total atmospheric concentration. PCBs in Milwaukee air are a source of PCBs to Lake Michigan. Calculated net gas exchange fluxes predicted forthe Milwaukee sampling period ranged from -60 to -400 ng m(-2) d(-1), where net deposition is indicated by the negative sign. Calculated particle-associated PCB deposition ranged from 80 to 500 ng m(-2) d(-1). Most of the particle-phase deposition flux is a result of coarse particle deposition and decreases rapidly with distance from shore. Under typical meteorological conditions, particle-associated PCBs depositional flux to the lake surface decreases by 90% within 40 km. For net gas-exchange, the flux reaches zero at about the same distance. At greater distances, particle-phase PCB deposition is negligible, and PCBs are volatilizing at a higher rate than they are being deposited. We calculated that Milwaukee air contributes about 120 kg of PCBs to Lake Michigan each year. This is about 10 times larger than the discharge of PCBs from the Milwaukee River.     

Residues of lindane in plasma and fat of sheep after dipping

Ten 5-6 year-old unshorn ewes were dipped in a 0.025% lindane solution. Lindane residues in fat and plasma were analysed by gas liquid chromatography with an electron capture detector. The sensitivity of the method was 0.02 microgram/g for fat and 0.005 microgram/ml for plasma. Blood samples of 5 sheep were collected up to 84 days. The highest concentration of lindane detected in plasma was 107 +/- 37 ng/ml, 48 h after treatment. The disposition of lindane in plasma was studied by linear regression. Omental fat samples were removed by biopsies at 7 or 14 day intervals for 154 days. Fat concentrations of lindane were very high, respectively 30.46 +/- 14.6 ug/g, 8.09 +/- 4.57 micrograms/g, and 1.72 +/- 0.81 micrograms/g, 7, 28 and 70 days after dipping. In plasma and fat, the coefficients of elimination calculated by linear regression were similar (0.00190 +/- 0.00053 h-1 for plasma, 0.00196 +/- 0.00031 h-1 for fat). The tolerance recommended in France (2 micrograms/g in fat) was obtained 59.7 +/- 9.7 days after this treatment.     

Methylated mercury species in Canadian high Arctic marine surface waters and snowpacks

We sampled seawater and snowpacks in the Canadian high Arctic for methylated species of mercury (Hg). We discovered that, although seawater sampled under the sea ice had very low concentrations of total Hg (THg, all forms of Hg in a sample; on average 0.14-0.24 ng L(-1)), 30-45% of the THg was in the monomethyl Hg (MMHg) form (on average 0.057-0.095 ng L(-1)), making seawater itself a direct source of MMHg for biomagnification through marine food webs. Seawater under the ice also contained high concentrations of gaseous elemental Hg (GEM; 129 +/- 36 pg L(-1)), suggesting that open water regions such as polynyas and ice leads were a net source of approximately 130 +/- 30 ng Hg m(-2) day(-1) to the atmosphere. We also found 11.1 +/- 4.1 pg L(-1) of dimethyl Hg (DMHg) in seawater and calculated that there could be a significant flux of DMHg to the atmosphere from open water regions. This flux could then resultin MMHg deposition into nearby snowpacks via oxidation of DMHg to MMHg in the atmosphere. In fact, we found high concentrations of MMHg in a few snowpacks near regions of open water. Interestingly, we discovered a significant log-log relationship between Cl- concentrations in snowpacks and concentrations of THg. We hypothesize that as Cl- concentrations in snowpacks increase, inorganic Hg(II) occurs principally as less reducible chloro complexes and, hence, remains in an oxidized state. As a result, snowpacks that receive both marine aerosol deposition of Cl- and deposition of Hg(II) via springtime atmospheric Hg depletion events, for example, may contain significant loads of Hg(II). Overall, though, the median wet/dry loads of Hg in the snowpacks we sampled in the high Arctic (5.2 mg THg ha(-1) and 0.03 mg MMHg ha(-1)) were far below wet-only annual THg loadings throughout southern Canada and most of the U.S. (22-200 mg ha(-1)). Therefore, most Arctic snowpacks contribute     

Concentration and dry deposition of mercury species in arid south central New Mexico (2001-2002)

This research was initiated to characterize atmospheric deposition of reactive gaseous mercury (RGM), particulate mercury (HgP; <2.5 microm), and gaseous elemental mercury (Hg0) in the arid lands of south central New Mexico. Two methods were field-tested to estimate dry deposition of three mercury species. A manual speciation sampling train consisting of a KCl-coated denuder, 2.5 microm quartz fiber filters, and gold-coated quartz traps and an ion-exchange membrane (as a passive surrogate surface) were deployed concurrently over 24-h intervals for an entire year. The mean 24-h atmospheric concentration for RGM was 6.8 pg m(-3) with an estimated deposition of 0.10 ng m(-2) h(-1). The estimated deposition of mercury to the passive surrogate surface was much greater (4.0 ng m(-2) h(-1)) but demonstrated a diurnal pattern with elevated deposition from late afternoon to late evening (1400-2200; 8.0 ng m(-2) h(-1)) and lowest deposition during the night just prior to sunrise (2200-0600; 1.7 ng m(-2) h(-1)). The mean 24-h atmospheric concentrations for HgP and Hg0 were 1.52 pg m(-3) and 1.59 ng m(-3), respectively. Diurnal patterns were observed for RGM with atmospheric levels lowest during the night prior to sunrise (3.8 pg m(-3)) and greater during the afternoon and early evening (8.9 pg m(-3)). Discernible diurnal patterns were not observed for either HgP or Hg0. The total dry deposition of Hg was 5.9 microg m-2 year-' with the contribution from the three species as follows: RGM (0.88 microg m(-2) year(-1)), HgP (0.025 microg m(-2) year(-1)), and Hg0 (5.0 microg m(-2) year(-1)). The annual wet deposition for total mercury throughout the same collection duration was 4.2 microg m(-2) year (-1), resulting in an estimated total deposition of 10.1 microg m(-2) year(-1) for Hg. On one sampling date, enhanced HgP (12 pg m(-3)) was observed due to emissions from a wildfire approximately 250 km to the east.     

攀西干热河谷烟田烤烟成熟初期水碳通量日间变化的非对称响应

为研究关键环境因子与烟田生态系统水、碳通量日间变化之间的响应关系。基于2016年攀西干热河谷典型烟田生态系统烤烟成熟初期涡度相关通量观测数据，分析了典型晴天内烟田冠层导度及水、碳通量的日间变化规律及其对气温、VPD和净辐射日间变化的非对称响应特征。结果表明:研究区烟田生态系统CO₂通量和蒸散量（ET）均存在明显的"午休"现象，冠层导度的变化是影响烟田水、碳通量日间变化的直接因素；研究区烤烟成熟初期水、碳通量呈现显著的非对称响应特征，相同的净辐射强度下，下午的CO₂通量和ET值均明显高于上午；WUE对净辐射的响应特征与净辐射强度有关，当净辐射强度小于230W·m-2时，下午烟田WUE大于上午，反之，上午烟田WUE大于下午；气温、饱和水气压差（VPD）与净辐射在日间的非同步变化是导致烟田冠层导度和ET在日间非对称响应的主要气象因素，从而间接影响烟田水、碳通量及WUE的日间动态特征。本研究为进一步分析攀西干热河谷烟田水、碳通量季节与年际变化特征及相关变异机理提供了理论依据与数据支持。      

Mercury emission to the atmosphere from experimental manipulation of DOC and UVR in mesoscale field chambers in a freshwater lake

Mesocosm experiments in an optically transparent lake allow the manipulation of both dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and incident ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in order to study mercury reduction and emission processes. In the absence of UVR and the presence of visible light, mercury emission is very low (approximately0.3 ng/m2/h). When UVR is permitted in the mesocosm chambers, mercury emission increases, with emission rates ranging from 0.3 to 2.5 ng/m2/h. At concentrations between 1.5 and 2.5 mg/L DOC, mercury emission does not appear to depend on either the concentration or the optical properties of the DOC. In particular, the addition of 1.0 mg/L DOC from a nearby wetland to a photobleached mesocosm did not increase the emission of mercury. The similarities between mercury emission from highly photobleached 1.5 mg/L DOC and from terrestrially enriched 2.5 mg/L DOC suggest that the moieties responsible for mercury reduction are far in excess of that needed for mercury reduction. Using the measured flux rate of mercury from the water surface, we calculated a dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) concentration thatwould need to be present to drive the emissive flux. The buildup of DGM was used to approximate a kinetic rate constant for the net mercury reduction in this system of approximately 0.17 h(-1), which is consistent with existing published values.     

Wet deposition of polychlorinated biphenyls in the eastern Mediterranean

The concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in rain samples collected from a semiurban and a marine background site of the eastern Mediterranean. The concentration of sigmaPCB (sum of 54 PCB congeners) in the city of Heraklion (2.9 +/- 1.9 ng L(-1)) was not significantly higher than the corresponding concentration measured at the background sampling station of Finokalia (1.9 +/- 0.9 ng L(-1)). In both sites, the sum of tri- and tetrachlorinated congeners accounted for more than 55% of sigmaPCB in rainwater. For all samples, the percentage of particle-bound PCBs ranged between 6.6% and 63.8%, providing an average value of 31 +/- 18%. The washout ratios of particulate PCBs (WP) were constant for individual congeners regardless the degree of chlorination. Average WP values ranged between 1.9 x 10(5) and 5.2 x 10(5) while a value of 2.7(+/- 1.3) x 10(5) was deduced for sigmaPCB. The corresponding washout ratios for gaseous PCBs were substantially lower and ranged between 7 x 10(3) (PCB 99) and 1.3 x 10(5) (PCB 180). Washout ratios of gaseous PCBs were also calculated based on Henry's law, and they were found to be 30-920 times lower than those obtained from field measurements. On the basis of our data, the wet deposition flux of sigmaPCB in the eastern Mediterranean should approach 820 ng m(-2) yr(-1). This flux is similar with the values recently reported for several background sites of the United States and Europe, but it is 1 order of magnitude lower than the flux of PCBs measured in the western Mediterranean 16 yr ago.     

Sulfate addition increases methylmercury production in an experimental wetland

Atmospheric mercury is the dominant Hg source to fish in northern Minnesota and elsewhere. However, atmospherically derived Hg must be methylated prior to accumulating in fish. Sulfate-reducing bacteria are thought to be the primary methylators of Hg in the environment. Previous laboratory and field mesocosm studies have demonstrated an increase in methylmercury (MeHg) levels in sediment and peatland porewaters following additions of sulfate. In the current ecosystem-scale study, sulfate was added to half of an experimental wetland at the Marcell Experimental Forest located in northeastern Minnesota, increasing annual sulfate load by approximately four times relative to the control half of the wetland. Sulfate was added on four separate occasions during 2002 and delivered via a sprinkler system constructed on the southeast half (1.0 ha) of the S6 experimental wetland. MeHg levels were monitored in porewater and in outflow from the wetland. Prior to the first sulfate addition, MeHg concentrations (filtered, 0.7 microm) were not statistically different between the control (0.47 +/- 0.10 ng L(-1), n = 12; mean +/- one standard error) and experimental 0.52 +/- 0.05 ng L(-1), n = 18) halves. Following the first addition in May 2002, MeHg porewater concentrations increased to 1.63 +/- 0.27 ng L(-1) two weeks after the addition, a 3-fold increase. Subsequent additions in July and September 2002 did not raise porewater MeHg, but the applied sulfate was not observed in porewaters 24 h after addition. MeHg concentrations in outflow from the wetland also increased leading to an estimated 2.4x increase of MeHg flux from the wetland. Our results demonstrate enhanced methylation and increased MeHg concentrations within the wetland and in outflow from the wetland suggesting that decreasing sulfate deposition rates would lower MeHg export from wetlands.     

Continuous analysis of dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) and mercury flux in two freshwater lakes in Kejimkujik Park,Nova Scotia: evaluating mercury flux models with quantitative data

Diurnal patterns for dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) concentration, mercury flux, several water variables (pH, oxidation reduction potential (ORP), water temperature), and meteorological variables (wind speed, air temperature, % relative humidity, solar radiation) were measured in two lakes with contrasting dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in Kejimkujik Park, Nova Scotia. A continuous analysis system made it possible to measure quick changes in DGM over time. Consistently higher DGM concentrations were found in the high DOC lake as compared to the low DOC lake. An examination of current mercury flux models using this quantitative data indicated some good correlations between the date and predicted flux (r ranging from 0.27 to 0.83) but generally poor fit (standard deviation of residuals ranging from 0.97 to 3.39). Cross-correlation analysis indicated that DGM dynamics changed in response to solar radiation with lag-times of 65 and 90 min. This relationship with solar radiation was used to develop new predictive models of DGM and mercury flux dynamics for each lake. We suggest that a generalized approach using time-shifted solar radiation date to predict DGM can be incorporated into existing mercury flux models. It is clear from the work presented that DOC and wind speed may also play important roles in DGM and mercury flux dynamics, and these roles have not been adequately accounted for in current predictive models.     

Mercury in the atmosphere, snow and melt water ponds in the North Atlantic Ocean during Arctic summer

Atmospheric mercury speciation measurements were performed during a 10 week Arctic summer expedition in the North Atlantic Ocean onboard the German research vessel RV Polarstern between June 15 and August 29, 2004. This expedition covered large areas of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans between latitudes 54 degrees N and 85 degrees N and longitudes 16 degrees W and 16 degrees E. Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) and mercury associated with particles (Hg-P) were measured during this study. In addition, total mercury in surface snow and meltwater ponds located on sea ice floes was measured. GEM showed a homogeneous distribution over the open North Atlantic Ocean (median 1.53 +/- 0.12 ng/m3), which is in contrast to the higher concentrations of GEM observed over sea ice (median 1.82 +/- 0.24 ng/m3). It is hypothesized that this results from either (re-) emission of mercury contained in snow and ice surfaces that was previously deposited during atmospheric mercury depletion events (AMDE) in the spring or evasion from the ocean due to increased reduction potential at high latitudes during Arctic summer. Measured concentrations of total mercury in surface snow and meltwater ponds were low (all samples <10 ng/L), indicating that marginal accumulation of mercury occurs in these environmental compartments. Results also reveal low concentrations of RGM and Hg-P without a significant diurnal variability. These results indicate that the production and deposition of these reactive mercury species do not significantly contribute to the atmospheric mercury cycle in the North Atlantic Ocean during the Arctic summer.     

Atmospheric transport of mercury to the Tibetan Plateau

The Tibetan Plateau (including the Himalayas) is one of the most remote and cold regions in the world. It has very limited to nonexistent industry but is adjacent to the two most populous and rapidly industrializing countries (China and India) and thus provides a unique location for studying the atmospheric transport of mercury. Here we report the first study on the atmospheric transport of mercury to the Tibetan Plateau. The total mercury profiles in four snowpits from glaciers above 5700 m asl along a southwest-northeast transect across the central Tibetan Plateau were obtained in 2005-2006. In general, the total mercury concentrations in the snow samples ranged from < 1 to 9 ng L(-1), increasing northeastward from the southernmost site at Mount Everest. Higher total mercury concentrations were found in the snow deposited in the nonmonsoon season, as indicated by seasonal variation of delta18O values and major ions in the snowpack. The annual atmospheric depositional flux of total Hg was estimated to range from 0.74 to 2.97 microg m(-2) yr(-1) in the region, the majority of which occurred via particulate matter deposition.