Evidences of modifications in the size distribution of particles during a mercury depletion event at Kuujjuarapik/Whapmagoostui, Québec (Canada)

Gauchard, Pierre-Alexis; Guéhenneux, Gaëlle; Ferrai, C.P.; Poissant, Laurier; Dommergue, Aurélien; Boutron, Claude F.; Fourcade, M.-C.; Baussand, Patrick

doi:10.1051/jp4:20030355

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“…The much less volatile reaction product(s), such as a mercury halide, an oxide, or a sulfate or nitrate compound of mercury produced by oxidation of Hg 0 vapour can be expected, on the basis of their vapour pressures (see Table 1), to preferentially exist or become associated with atmospheric aerosol, rather than remaining in the gas phase under typical (still very cold) springtime environmental conditions in the Arctic, thus explaining the dramatically elevated concentrations of TFM observed frequently at Alert during the 3‐month period following polar sunrise (Lu et al 2001). This hypothesis is supported by the increase in the particle concentrations during the mercury depletion events (Gauchard et al 2003). It is also possible, but less likely, that the halogen atoms (Cl·, Br·, and/or I·) attack Hg 0 vapour, forming HgX 2 (since this would require either a concerted “three‐body” collision or a two‐step sequential reaction).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Annual time-series of total filterable atmospheric mercury concentrations in the Arctic

Lu¹,

Schroeder²

2004

Tellus B

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Total atmospheric mercury (TAM) is operationally defined as the sum of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), gaseous oxidized inorganic mercury (GOIM), which is also called reactive gaseous mercury (RGM), and total filterable mercury (TFM). An annual weekly‐integrated time‐series of TFM concentrations in ambient air at Alert, Nunavut, Canada from March 1998 to March 1999 is reported in this paper. The observed TFM concentrations ranged from 0 to 0.37 ng m−3 with the highest value occurring in the spring after polar sunrise and the lowest in summer. The average values for the four seasons are 0.086 (March–May), 0.00085 (June–August), 0.0015 (September–November) and 0.013 ng m−3 (December 1998–February 1999) respectively. This pattern is anti‐correlated to that of GEM concentration observed at the same location. The GOIM concentration, calculated using the equation [GOIM]=[TAM]−[GEM]−[TFM], is also anti‐correlated with GEM concentration. The annual time‐series of the TFM operational blank values shows the same temporal pattern as the TFM concentration, with values ranging from 0.00 to 0.011 ng m−3. These results confirm that, in the polar regions, GEM oxidation and atmospheric deposition of mercury occur mainly in the 3‐month period after polar sunrise. Incisive laboratory and field experiments are needed to either confirm or rule out the springtime GEM oxidation/conversion mechanisms proposed in this paper.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%