scholarly journals Atmospheric mercury in Australia

Elem Sci Anth ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny A. Fisher ◽  
Peter F. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Southern Hemisphere ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Monsoon Season ◽  
Surface Flux ◽  
Atmospheric Mercury ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mercury Cycling ◽  
Mercury Emissions

Mercury is a toxic bioaccumulative pollutant, with the atmosphere being the primary pathway for global distribution. Although atmospheric mercury cycling has been extensively monitored and modeled across the Northern Hemisphere, there has long been a dearth of mercury data for the Southern Hemisphere. Recent efforts in Australia are helping to fill this gap, with new observational records that span environments ranging from cool temperate to warm tropical climates and near-source to background conditions. Here, we review recent research on atmospheric mercury in Australia, highlighting new observational constraints on atmospheric concentrations, emissions, and deposition and, where possible, comparing these to model estimates. We also provide our best estimate of the current Australian atmospheric mercury budget. Ambient mercury observations collected to date show unique features not captured at other observing sites across the Southern Hemisphere, including very low concentrations at inland sites and a monsoon season drawdown in the tropical north. Previously compiled estimates of Australian anthropogenic mercury emissions differ substantially due to both methodological differences (e.g., assumptions about mercury control technology in coal-fired power plants) and recent closures of major Australian mercury sources, and none are appropriate for modern-day Australia. For mercury emissions from biomass burning, new measurements from Australian smoke plumes show emission factors for both savanna and temperate forest fires are significantly lower than measured elsewhere in the world, and prior estimates based on non-Australian data are likely too high. Although significant uncertainties remain, our analysis suggests that emissions from terrestrial sources (both newly released and legacy) significantly exceed those from anthropogenic sources. However, recent bidirectional air-surface flux observations suggest this source is likely balanced by deposition and surface uptake at local scales. Throughout, we highlight lingering uncertainties and identify critical future research needs for understanding Australian atmospheric mercury and its role in Southern Hemisphere mercury cycling.

scholarly journals The Role of Climate: 71 ka of Atmospheric Mercury Deposition in the Southern Hemisphere Recorded by Rano Aroi Mire, Easter Island (Chile)

Geosciences ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Pérez-Rodríguez ◽  
Olga Margalef ◽  
Juan Corella ◽  
Alfonso Saiz-Lopez ◽  
Sergi Pla-Rabes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Mercury ◽  
Easter Island ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Atmospheric Oxidation ◽  
Main Process ◽  
Mercury Deposition ◽  
Mercury Cycling ◽  
Surface Deposition ◽  
Depositional Processes

The study of mercury accumulation in peat cores provides an excellent opportunity to improve the knowledge on mercury cycling and depositional processes at remote locations far from pollution sources. We analyzed mercury concentrations in 150 peat samples from two cores from Rano Aroi (Easter Island, 27° S) and in selected vegetation samples of present-day flora of the island, in order to characterize the mercury cycling for the last ~71 ka BP. The mercury concentrations showed values ranging between 35 and 200 ng g−1, except for a large maxima (~1000 ng g−1) which occurred at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, ~20 ka cal BP) in both peat cores. Low temperatures during the LGM would accelerate the atmospheric oxidation of Hg(0) to divalent mercury that, coupled with higher rainfall during this period, most likely resulted in a very efficient surface deposition of atmospheric mercury. Two exceptional short-lived Hg peaks occurred during the Holocene at 8.5 (350 ng g−1) and 4.7 (1000 ng g−1) ka cal BP. These values are higher than those recorded in most peat records belonging to the industrial period, highlighting that natural factors played a significant role in Hg accumulation—sometimes even more so than anthropogenic sources. Our results suggest that wet deposition, linked to atmospheric oxidation, was the main process controlling the short-lived Hg events, both in the mire and in the catchment soils.

scholarly journals Atmospheric mercury in the Southern Hemisphere tropics: seasonal and diurnal variations and influence of inter-hemispheric transport

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 11623-11636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean Howard ◽  
Peter F. Nelson ◽  
Grant C. Edwards ◽  
Anthony L. Morrison ◽  
Jenny A. Fisher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Hemisphere ◽  
Monsoon Season ◽  
Atmospheric Mercury ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Observation System ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Mercury Deposition ◽  
Transport Pathway ◽  
Seasonal And Diurnal Variations ◽  
Gem Data

Abstract. Mercury is a toxic element of serious concern for human and environmental health. Understanding its natural cycling in the environment is an important goal towards assessing its impacts and the effectiveness of mitigation strategies. Due to the unique chemical and physical properties of mercury, the atmosphere is the dominant transport pathway for this heavy metal, with the consequence that regions far removed from sources can be impacted. However, there exists a dearth of long-term monitoring of atmospheric mercury, particularly in the tropics and Southern Hemisphere. This paper presents the first 2 years of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) measurements taken at the Australian Tropical Atmospheric Research Station (ATARS) in northern Australia, as part of the Global Mercury Observation System (GMOS). Annual mean GEM concentrations determined at ATARS (0.95 ± 0.12 ng m−3) are consistent with recent observations at other sites in the Southern Hemisphere. Comparison with GEM data from other Australian monitoring sites suggests a concentration gradient that decreases with increasing latitude. Seasonal analysis shows that GEM concentrations at ATARS are significantly lower in the distinct wet monsoon season than in the dry season. This result provides insight into alterations of natural mercury cycling processes as a result of changes in atmospheric humidity, oceanic/terrestrial fetch, and convective mixing, and invites future investigation using wet mercury deposition measurements. Due to its location relative to the atmospheric equator, ATARS intermittently samples air originating from the Northern Hemisphere, allowing an opportunity to gain greater understanding of inter-hemispheric transport of mercury and other atmospheric species. Diurnal cycles of GEM at ATARS show distinct nocturnal depletion events that are attributed to dry deposition under stable boundary layer conditions. These cycles provide strong further evidence supportive of a multi-hop model of GEM cycling, characterised by multiple surface depositions and re-emissions, in addition to long-range transport through the atmosphere.

scholarly journals Identification of mercury emissions from forest fires, lakes, regional and local sources using measurements in Milwaukee and an inverse method

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 12935-12986
Author(s):  
B. de Foy ◽  
C. Wiedinmyer ◽  
J. J. Schauer
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Bootstrap Method ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Waste Incineration ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Toxic Release Inventory ◽  
Lake Surface ◽  
Back Trajectories ◽  
Mercury Emissions

Abstract. Gaseous elemental mercury is a global pollutant that can lead to serious health concerns via deposition to the biosphere and bio-accumulation in the food chain. Hourly measurements between June 2004 and May 2005 in an urban site (Milwaukee, WI) show elevated levels of mercury in the atmosphere with numerous short-lived peaks as well as longer-lived episodes. The measurements are analyzed with an inverse model to obtain information about mercury emissions. The model is based on high resolution meteorological simulations (WRF), hourly back-trajectories (WRF-FLEXPART) and forward grid simulations (CAMx). The hybrid formulation combining back-trajectories and grid simulations is used to identify potential source regions as well as the impacts of forest fires and lake surface emissions. Uncertainty bounds are estimated using a bootstrap method on the inversions. Comparison with the US Environmental Protection Agency's National Emission Inventory (NEI) and Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) shows that emissions from coal-fired power plants are properly characterized, but emissions from local urban sources, waste incineration and metal processing could be significantly under-estimated. Emissions from the lake surface and from forest fires were found to have significant impacts on mercury levels in Milwaukee, and to be underestimated by a factor of two or more.

scholarly journals Atmospheric mercury in the southern hemisphere tropics: seasonal and diurnal variations and influence of inter-hemispheric transport

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean Howard ◽  
Peter F. Nelson ◽  
Grant C. Edwards ◽  
Anthony L. Morrison ◽  
Jenny A. Fisher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Hemisphere ◽  
Monsoon Season ◽  
Atmospheric Mercury ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Observation System ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Mercury Deposition ◽  
Transport Pathway ◽  
Seasonal And Diurnal Variations ◽  
Gem Data

Abstract. Mercury is a toxic element of serious concern for human and environmental health. Understanding its natural cycling in the environment is an important goal towards assessing its impacts and the effectiveness of mitigation strategies. Due to the unique chemical and physical properties of mercury, the atmosphere is the dominant transport pathway for this heavy metal, with the consequence that regions far removed from sources can be impacted. However, there exists a dearth of long-term monitoring of atmospheric mercury, particularly in the tropics and southern hemisphere. This paper presents the first two years of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) measurements taken at the Australian Tropical Atmospheric Research Station (ATARS) in northern Australia, as part of the Global Mercury Observation System (GMOS). Annual mean GEM concentrations determined at ATARS (0.95 ± 0.12 ng m−3) are consistent with recent observations at other sites in the southern hemisphere. Comparison with GEM data from other Australian monitoring sites suggests a concentration gradient that decreases with increasing latitude. Seasonal analysis shows that GEM concentrations at ATARS are significantly lower in the distinct wet monsoon season than in the dry season. This result provides insight into alterations of natural mercury cycling processes as a result of changes in atmospheric humidity, oceanic/terrestrial fetch and convective mixing, and invites future investigation using wet mercury deposition measurements. Due to its location relative to the atmospheric equator, ATARS intermittently samples air originating from the northern hemisphere, allowing an opportunity to gain greater understanding of inter-hemispheric transport of mercury and other atmospheric species. Diurnal cycles of GEM at ATARS show distinct nocturnal depletion events that are attributed to dry deposition under stable boundary layer conditions. These cycles provide strong further evidence for the multi-hop model of global GEM cycling, whereby long-range transport is characterised by multiple surface depositions and re-emissions, rather than continuous transport over long distances.

scholarly journals Estimation of mercury emissions from forest fires, lakes, regional and local sources using measurements in Milwaukee and an inverse method

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 8993-9011 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. de Foy ◽  
C. Wiedinmyer ◽  
J. J. Schauer
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Bootstrap Method ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Chemical Transport Model ◽  
Lake Surface ◽  
Back Trajectories ◽  
Mercury Emissions

Abstract. Gaseous elemental mercury is a global pollutant that can lead to serious health concerns via deposition to the biosphere and bio-accumulation in the food chain. Hourly measurements between June 2004 and May 2005 in an urban site (Milwaukee, WI) show elevated levels of mercury in the atmosphere with numerous short-lived peaks as well as longer-lived episodes. The measurements are analyzed with an inverse model to obtain information about mercury emissions. The model is based on high resolution meteorological simulations (WRF), hourly back-trajectories (WRF-FLEXPART) and a chemical transport model (CAMx). The hybrid formulation combining back-trajectories and Eulerian simulations is used to identify potential source regions as well as the impacts of forest fires and lake surface emissions. Uncertainty bounds are estimated using a bootstrap method on the inversions. Comparison with the US Environmental Protection Agency's National Emission Inventory (NEI) and Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) shows that emissions from coal-fired power plants are properly characterized, but emissions from local urban sources, waste incineration and metal processing could be significantly under-estimated. Emissions from the lake surface and from forest fires were found to have significant impacts on mercury levels in Milwaukee, and to be underestimated by a factor of two or more.

Control strategies of atmospheric mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in China

2012 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 576-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hezhong Tian ◽  
Yan Wang ◽  
Ke Cheng ◽  
Yiping Qu ◽  
Jiming Hao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Atmospheric Mercury ◽  
Mercury Emissions

scholarly journals Global mercury emissions to the atmosphere from anthropogenic and natural sources

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 4719-4752 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Pirrone ◽  
S. Cinnirella ◽  
X. Feng ◽  
R. B. Finkelman ◽  
H. R. Friedli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Current Estimate ◽  
Cement Production ◽  
Natural Sources ◽  
Mercury Emissions ◽  
Source Regions ◽  
Primary Emissions

Abstract. This paper provides an up-to-date assessment of global mercury emissions from anthropogenic and natural sources. On an annual basis, natural sources account for 5207 Mg of mercury released to the global atmosphere, including the contribution from re-emission processes, which are emissions of previously deposited mercury originating from anthropogenic and natural sources, and primary emissions from natural reservoirs. Anthropogenic sources, which include a large number of industrial point sources, are estimated to account for 2320 Mg of mercury emitted annually. The major contributions are from fossil-fuel fired power plants (810 Mg yr−1), artisanal small scale gold mining (400 Mg yr−1), non-ferrous metals manufacturing (310 Mg yr−1), cement production (236 Mg yr−1), waste disposal (187 Mg yr−1) and caustic soda production (163 Mg yr−1). Therefore, our current estimate of global mercury emissions suggests that the overall contribution from natural sources (primary emissions+re-emissions) and anthropogenic sources is nearly 7527 Mg per year, the uncertainty associated with these estimates are related to the typology of emission sources and source regions.

scholarly journals Global mercury emissions to the atmosphere from anthropogenic and natural sources

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (13) ◽  
pp. 5951-5964 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Pirrone ◽  
S. Cinnirella ◽  
X. Feng ◽  
R. B. Finkelman ◽  
H. R. Friedli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Current Estimate ◽  
Cement Production ◽  
Natural Sources ◽  
Mercury Emissions ◽  
Source Regions ◽  
Primary Emissions

Abstract. This paper provides an up-to-date assessment of global mercury emissions from anthropogenic and natural sources. On an annual basis, natural sources account for 5207 Mg of mercury released to the global atmosphere, including the contribution from re-emission processes, which are emissions of previously deposited mercury originating from anthropogenic and natural sources, and primary emissions from natural reservoirs. Anthropogenic sources, which include a large number of industrial point sources, are estimated to account for 2320 Mg of mercury emitted annually. The major contributions are from fossil-fuel fired power plants (810 Mg yr−1), artisanal small scale gold mining (400 Mg yr−1), non-ferrous metals manufacturing (310 Mg yr−1), cement production (236 Mg yr−1), waste disposal (187 Mg yr−1) and caustic soda production (163 Mg yr−1). Therefore, our current estimate of global mercury emissions suggests that the overall contribution from natural sources (primary emissions + re-emissions) and anthropogenic sources is nearly 7527 Mg per year, the uncertainty associated with these estimates are related to the typology of emission sources and source regions.

Rapidly changing coal-related city-level atmospheric mercury emissions and their driving forces

2021 ◽  
pp. 125060
Author(s):  
Yaqin Guo ◽  
Lin Xiao ◽  
Bin Chen ◽  
Zhujuan Wu ◽  
Huanxin Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Driving Forces ◽  
Atmospheric Mercury ◽  
Mercury Emissions
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