High-resolution measurements of elemental mercury in surface water for an improved quantitative understanding of the Baltic Sea as a source of atmospheric mercury

Kuss, Joachim; Krüger, Siegfried; Ruickoldt, Johann; Wlost, Klaus-Peter

doi:10.5194/acp-2017-1052

Cited by 2 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 33 publications

(63 reference statements)

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“…Surface water Hg 0 aq concentrations were more variable than Hg 0 air . The observed range of Hg 0 aq was in good agreement with concentrations ranging from 10 to 25 ng m −3 reported for the eastern and western Gotland Sea and the Bornholm Sea in May 2013 (Kuss et al., 2018). A larger mean Hg 0 aq concentration of 54 ± 28 ng m −3 was measured in July 2016 during a cruise in the southern Baltic Sea (Soerensen et al., 2018).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 89%

“…The Hg 0 air concentrations were relatively constant throughout the day with the 10th and 90th percentiles being 1.06 and 1.45 ng m −3 at 7 m and being 1.09 and 1.46 ng m −3 at 29 m (Figure 4a). Our measurements compare well with a mean Hg 0 air concentration of 1.29 ± 0.14 ng m −3 (range from 0.8 ng m −3 to 1.84 ng m −3 ) measured on a ship passing west of Gotland while traveling from the north (Luleå) to south (Landskrona) of the Baltic Sea between April 28 and May 5, 2017 (Hoglind et al., 2018) and 1.2 ± 0.4 ng m −3 determined during cruises passing the Eastern Gotland Sea between 2011 and 2015 (Kuss et al., 2018).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The relationship between the transfer velocity of CO 2 and wind speed has been suggested to be directly transferable to Hg 0 (Johnson, 2010). This transfer is done by scaling the Schmidt number of Hg 0 to that of CO 2 at the prevailing temperature and salinity conditions (Kuss et al., 2018). However, gases of different solubility respond differently to the processes driving fluxes, so a single wind speed function for all gases is inconsistent with the current understanding of gas transfer physics (Garbe et al., 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Critical Observations of Gaseous Elemental Mercury Air‐Sea Exchange

Osterwalder

Nerentorp

Zhu

et al. 2021

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

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On a global scale 3,800 Mg a −1 mercury (Hg) enter the ocean through atmospheric deposition and 300 Mg a −1 through riverine input (UNEP, 2019). Atmospheric wet deposition of divalent mercury (Hg II ) constitutes the main deposition pathway of total atmospheric Hg to the surface ocean (Zhang et al., 2014), while dry deposition of Hg II constitutes a minor fraction in the mid-latitude marine boundary layer (Holmes et al., 2009). Reduction of Hg II to gaseous elemental mercury (Hg 0 ) in the surface ocean leads to re-emission of Hg 0 from the ocean of approximately 2,900 Mg a −1 (Horowitz et al., 2017). However, these current air-sea Hg exchange estimates are associated with high uncertainty and a better constraint on the Hg 0 flux is crucial for two reasons: first, ocean emissions reduce the reservoir of Hg II available for methylation in the water column and subsequent bioaccumulation in marine biota (Lavoie et al., 2013). Second, ocean emissions increase the amount of Hg actively cycling between the atmosphere, marine and terrestrial ecosystems (Amos et al., 2013;Selin, 2009). Air-sea exchange of Hg 0 is a diffusion process driven by the concentration gradient between Hg 0 in the atmosphere (Hg 0 air ) and dissolved gaseous elemental Hg in seawater (DGM, hereinafter referred to as Hg 0 aq ). The two key factors that control the Hg 0 air-sea exchange are (a) the saturation of Hg 0 in surface water relative to equilibrium conditions expressed by Henry's law constant for Hg 0 and (b) the gas transfer velocity (k) (Qureshi et al., 2011). The Hg 0 flux is typically estimated based on a thin film gas exchange model (Liss & Merlivat, 1986;Wanninkhof, 1992) that uses in situ measurements of Hg 0 air and Hg 0 aq together with a wind speed dependent parameterization of k that was developed based on field experiments with volatile

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Critical Observations of Gaseous Elemental Mercury Air‐Sea Exchange

Osterwalder

Nerentorp

Zhu

et al. 2021

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

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“…Kuss et al has found that the Baltic Sea can act as a sink for mercury during winter season. The uptake of elemental mercury by the surface water is dependent on the concentration of GEM in air, the concentration of dissolved gaseous elemental mercury (DGM) in the surface water [37][38][39]. Moreover, mathematical modelling of air sea exchange also includes e.g., water temperature and wind speed.…”

Section: Comparisons and Other Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Atmosphere 2018, 9, x FOR PEER REVIEW 13 of 17 gaseous elemental mercury (DGM) in the surface water [37][38][39]. Moreover, mathematical modelling of air sea exchange also includes e.g., water temperature and wind speed.…”

Section: Comparisons and Other Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ship-Based Measurements of Atmospheric Mercury Concentrations over the Baltic Sea

2018

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Mercury is a toxic pollutant emitted from both natural sources and through human activities. A global interest in atmospheric mercury has risen ever since the discovery of the Minamata disease in 1956. Properties of gaseous elemental mercury enable long range transport, which can cause pollution even in pristine environments. Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) was measured from winter 2016 to spring 2017 over the Baltic Sea. A Tekran 2357A mercury analyser was installed aboard the research and icebreaking vessel Oden for the purpose of continuous measurements of gaseous mercury in ambient air. Measurements were performed during a campaign along the Swedish east coast and in the Bothnian Bay near Lulea during the icebreaking season. Data was evaluated from Gothenburg using plotting software, and back trajectories for air masses were calculated. The GEM average of 1.36 ± 0.054 ng/m 3 during winter and 1.29 ± 0.140 ng/m 3 during spring was calculated as well as a total average of 1.36 ± 0.16 ng/m 3 . Back trajectories showed a possible correlation of anthropogenic sources elevating the mercury background level in some areas. There were also indications of depleted air, i.e., air with lower concentrations than average, being transported from the Arctic to northern Sweden, resulting in a drop in GEM levels.

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High-resolution measurements of elemental mercury in surface water for an improved quantitative understanding of the Baltic Sea as a source of atmospheric mercury

Cited by 2 publications

References 33 publications

Critical Observations of Gaseous Elemental Mercury Air‐Sea Exchange

Critical Observations of Gaseous Elemental Mercury Air‐Sea Exchange

Ship-Based Measurements of Atmospheric Mercury Concentrations over the Baltic Sea

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