Observational and Modeling Constraints on Global Anthropogenic Enrichment of Mercury

Amos, H. M.; Sonke, Jeroen E.; Obrist, Daniel; Robins, Nicholas A.; Hagan, Nicole; Horowitz, Hannah Marie; Mason, Robert P.; Witt, Melanie; Hedgecock, Ian M.; Corbitt, Elizabeth S.; Sunderland, Elsie M.

doi:10.1021/es5058665

Cited by 154 publications

(240 citation statements)

References 122 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

226

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Unfortunately, the natural and legacy Hg emissions inputs to models currently demonstrate factor of five differences [34]. Sensitivity simulations conducted by Amos et al [63] of historical atmospheric emissions and model rate coefficients on present-day reservoirs have shown that the largest uncertainties in quantifying the legacy contribution arise from parameterizations of air-sea exchange, retention of Hg in soil, and disturbance of coastal sediments.…”

Section: Biogeochemical Cyclementioning

confidence: 99%

Uncertainties in Atmospheric Mercury Modeling for Policy Evaluation

Kwon

Selin

2016

Curr Pollution Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mercury (Hg) contamination is an issue of a growing environmental and public health concern. Atmospheric chemistry transport models for Hg are a critical tool for understanding the sources, processes, and fate of Hg. Uncertainties in multiple aspects of atmospheric Hg models, however, limit their application for policy evaluation and for monitoring global trends in atmospheric Hg concentrations. This review aims to identify uncertainties in atmospheric Hg modeling that are relevant in the context of policy and for informing decision-making. We focus on specific requirements of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty signed in 2013 to protect human health and the environment from Hg, to demonstrate how existing uncertainties in atmospheric Hg modeling can influence our ability to evaluate source-receptor relationships. Modeling studies of source attribution suggest that major uncertainties in atmospheric Hg modeling arise from anthropogenic emissions, biogeochemical cycling, and atmospheric chemistry. Uncertainties in these aspects of modeling are expected to increase under the Convention, with regulation of anthropogenic emissions, changes in atmospheric conditions, and legacy and natural Hg source contribution to the global biogeochemical cycle. These uncertainties can interact with one another and with the current Hg species measurement capability and pose challenges to effectively monitoring trends in atmospheric Hg. Developing additional means to attribute simulated atmospheric Hg trends and improve source-receptor relationships in atmospheric Hg models would improve our ability to evaluate the Convention's effectiveness.

show abstract

Section: Biogeochemical Cyclementioning

confidence: 99%

Uncertainties in Atmospheric Mercury Modeling for Policy Evaluation

Kwon

Selin

2016

Curr Pollution Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Consequently, mercury oxidation processes have been the focus of the international mercury community in recent years Cohen et al, 2016;Amos et al, 2015;Dastoor et al, 2015;Song et al, 2015;Bieser et al, 2014a;De Simone et al, 2014;Qureshi et al, 2011;Travnikov et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-model study of mercury dispersion in the atmosphere: vertical and interhemispheric distribution of mercury species

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Atmospheric chemistry and transport of mercury play a key role in the global mercury cycle. However, there are still considerable knowledge gaps concerning the fate of mercury in the atmosphere. This is the second part of a model intercomparison study investigating the impact of atmospheric chemistry and emissions on mercury in the atmosphere. While the first study focused on ground-based observations of mercury concentration and deposition, here we investigate the vertical and interhemispheric distribution and speciation of mercury from the planetary boundary layer to the lower stratosphere. So far, there have been few model studies investigating the vertical distribution of mercury, mostly focusing on single aircraft campaigns. Here, we present a first comprehensive analysis based on various aircraft observations in Europe, North America, and on intercontinental flights.The investigated models proved to be able to reproduce the distribution of total and elemental mercury concentrations in the troposphere including interhemispheric trends. One key aspect of the study is the investigation of mercury oxidation in the troposphere. We found that different chemistry schemes were better at reproducing observed oxidized mercury patterns depending on altitude. High concentrations of oxidized mercury in the upper troposphere could be reproduced with oxidation by bromine while elevated concentrations in the lower troposphere were better reproduced by OH and ozone chemistry. However, the results were not always conclusive as the physical and chemical parameterizations in the chemistry transport models also proved to have a substantial impact on model results.

show abstract

“…Upon deposition, mercury can be re-emitted to the atmosphere or converted -in aquatic systems -to methylmercury (Driscoll et al, 2013). Anthropogenic activities have altered the global geochemical cycle of mercury, enhancing the amount of mercury circulating in the atmosphere and surface oceans by at least a factor of 3 (Lamborg et al, 2014;Amos et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%