Atmospheric mercury concentrations and fluxes in the Almadén district (Spain)

Ferrara, R.; Maserti, Biancaelena; Andersson, Mats; Edner, Hans; Ragnarson, P; Svanberg, Sune; Hernández, Antonio Arellano

doi:10.1016/s1352-2310(98)00102-2

Cited by 99 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Hg 0 fluxes from contaminated point sources have been extensively investigated by using the LIDAR technique, which is by far the most effective experimental approach to spatially resolve the Hg 0 air-surface exchange at contaminated sites. Ferrara et al (1998a) measured the spatial distribution TGM concentration and TGM flux from the world's largest Hg mine, the Almadén Hg mine, in Spain. TGM concentrations and fluxes were estimated to be 0.1-5 µg m −3 and 600-1200 g h −1 in fall, 1993, above the village of Almadén.…”

Section: Source and Sink Characteristics Of Natural Surfaces In The Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global observations and modeling of atmosphere–surface exchange of elemental mercury: a critical review

et al. 2016

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Abstract. Reliable quantification of air-surface fluxes of elemental Hg vapor (Hg 0 ) is crucial for understanding mercury (Hg) global biogeochemical cycles. There have been extensive measurements and modeling efforts devoted to estimating the exchange fluxes between the atmosphere and various surfaces (e.g., soil, canopies, water, snow, etc.) in the past three decades. However, large uncertainties remain due to the complexity of Hg 0 bidirectional exchange, limitations of flux quantification techniques and challenges in model parameterization. In this study, we provide a critical review on the state of science in the atmosphere-surface exchange of Hg 0 . Specifically, the advancement of flux quantification techniques, mechanisms in driving the air-surface Hg exchange and modeling efforts are presented. Due to the semi-volatile nature of Hg 0 and redox transformation of Hg in environmental media, Hg deposition and evasion are influenced by multiple environmental variables including seasonality, vegetative coverage and its life cycle, temperature, light, moisture, atmospheric turbulence and the presence of reactants (e.g., O 3 , radicals, etc.). However, the effects of these processes on flux have not been fundamentally and quantitatively determined, which limits the accuracy of flux modeling.We compile an up-to-date global observational flux database and discuss the implication of flux data on the global Hg budget. Mean Hg 0 fluxes obtained by micrometeorological measurements do not appear to be significantly greater than the fluxes measured by dynamic flux chamber methods over unpolluted surfaces (p = 0.16, one-tailed, Mann-Whitney U test). The spatiotemporal coverage of existing Hg 0 flux measurements is highly heterogeneous with large data gaps existing in multiple continents (Africa, South Asia, Middle East, South America and Australia). The magnitude of the evasion flux is strongly enhanced by human activities, particularly at contaminated sites. Hg 0 flux observations in East Asia are comparatively larger in magnitude than the rest of the world, suggesting substantial re-emission of previously deposited mercury from anthropogenic sources. The Hg 0 exchange over pristine surfaces (e.g., background soil and water) and vegetation needs better constraints for global analyses of the atmospheric Hg budget. The existing knowledge gap and the associated research needs for future measurements and modeling efforts for the air-surface exchange of Hg 0 are discussed.

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Section: Source and Sink Characteristics Of Natural Surfaces In The Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global observations and modeling of atmosphere–surface exchange of elemental mercury: a critical review

et al. 2016

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“…In recent years, considerable progress in understanding mercury geochemistry at such sites has been made with the development of interfacial mercury flux measurement technology (Ferrara et al, 1998a;Ferrara et al, 1998b;Gustin et al, 1996;Nacht et al, 2004;Gustin, 2003;Engle et al, 2001). Mercury emission rates from these Hg-enriched areas were found to be greater than previously estimated, indicating that these sources may be more significant contributors of mercury to the atmosphere than previously realized (Gustin et al, 2000;Gustin, 2003;Engle et al, 2001;Wang et al, 2005, Wang et al, 2007a, Wang et al, 2007bCoolbaugh et al, 2002;Feng et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A laboratory based experimental study of mercury emission from contaminated soils in the River Idrijca catchment

Kocman

Horvat

2010

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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Abstract.Results obtained by a laboratory flux measurement system (LFMS) focused on investigating the kinetics of the mercury emission flux (MEF) from contaminated soils of the Idrija Hg-mine region, Slovenia are presented. Representative soil samples with respect to total Hg concentrations (4-417 µg g −1 ) and land cover (forest, meadow and alluvial soil) alongside the River Idrijca were analysed to determine the variation in MEF versus distance from the source, regulating three major environmental parameters comprising soil temperature, soil moisture and solar radiation. MEFs ranged from less than 2 to 530 ng m −2 h −1 , with the highest emissions from contaminated alluvial soils and soils near the mining district in the town of Idrija. A significant decrease of MEF was then observed with increasing distance from these sites. The results revealed a strong positive effect of all three parameters investigated on momentum MEF. The light-induced flux was shown to be independent of the soil temperature, while the soil aqueous phase seems to be responsible for recharging the pool of mercury in the soil available for both the light-and thermally-induced flux. The overall flux response to simulated environmental conditions depends greatly on the form of Hg in the soil. Higher activation energies are required for the overall process to occur in soils where insoluble cinnabar prevails compared to soils where more mobile Hg forms and forms available for transformation processes are dominant.

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“…A full integration between plumetransect, integrated-gas-contents measurement and automatic wind assessment for total flux determinations at industries has been achieved [5,6]. Extensive work on the monitoring ofmining areas, geothermal fields, and active volcanoes has been performed [7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. In particular, the total fluxes from the Italian volcanoes Etna, Stromboli and Vulcano have been measured in shipborne campaigns, where Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL), Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) and Correlation Spectroscopy (COSPEC) were intercompared [14].…”

Section: Atmospheric Lidarmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental monitoring using optical techniques

Svanberg¹

2003

SPIE Proceedings

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Atmospheric mercury concentrations and fluxes in the Almadén district (Spain)

Cited by 99 publications

References 11 publications

Global observations and modeling of atmosphere–surface exchange of elemental mercury: a critical review

Global observations and modeling of atmosphere–surface exchange of elemental mercury: a critical review

A laboratory based experimental study of mercury emission from contaminated soils in the River Idrijca catchment

Environmental monitoring using optical techniques

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