An attempt to study the photoreduction rate of divalent mercury in landfill cover soils using experimental control systems

Mercury (Hg) emissions from landfill cover soils are an important source of atmospheric Hg affecting local and regional atmospheric Hg budget. To date, soil Hg emissions have been extensively studied, whereas the photoreduction rate of cover soil Hg(II) under various conditions is rarely studied. Herein, two experimental control systems were built to investigate the effect of varying soil Hg(II) concentrations, moistures, and temperature on soil Hg emission in order to obtain the photoreduction rate of soil Hg(II) under varying environmental conditions. The results showed that high soil Hg(II) concentration and high soil temperature can facilitate Hg emission; however, high moisture inhibited Hg emission. In addition, solar radiation is an extremely critical factor for Hg emission and solar radiation-driven photoreduction is an important contribution process for Hg emission; moreover, soil Hg emission is controlled by multiple environmental factors and varies with environmental factors. Through the data fitting and formula calculation, the photoreduction rates under varying conditions are in the range of 1.49-8.54 × 10-10 m2 s-1 W-1, which can be helpful for the construction of a process-based model of soil Hg emission and Hg management in landfills.

Labile carbon inputs boost microbial contribution to legacy mercury reduction and emissions from industry-polluted soils

Soils is a crucial reservoir influencing mercury (Hg) emissions and soil-air exchange dynamics, partially modulated by microbial reducers aiding Hg reduction. Yet, the extent to which microbial engagements contribute to soil Hg volatilization remains largely unknown. Here, we characterized Hg-reducing bacterial communities in natural and anthropogenically perturbed soil environments and quantified their contribution to soil Hg(0) volatilization. Our results revealed distinct Hg-reducing bacterial compositions alongside elevated mercuric reductase (merA) gene abundance and diversity in soils adjacent to chemical factories compared to less-impacted ecosystems. Notably, solely industry-impacted soils exhibited increased merA gene abundance along Hg gradients, indicating microbial adaption to Hg selective pressure through quantitative changes in Hg reductase and genetic diversity. Microcosm studies demonstrated that glucose inputs boosted microbial involvement and induced 2-8 fold increments in cumulative Hg(0) volatilization in industry-impacted soils. Microbially-mediated Hg reduction contributed to 41.6% of soil Hg(0) volatilization in industry-impacted soils under 25% water-holding capacity and glucose input conditions over a 21-day incubation period. Alcaligenaceae, Moraxellaceae, Nitrosomonadaceae and Shewanellaceae were identified as potential contributors to Hg(0) volatilization in the soil. Collectively, our study provides novel insights into microbially-mediated Hg reduction and soil-air exchange processes, with important implications for risk assessment and management of industrial Hg-contaminated soils.

Multi-layered physical factors govern mercury release from soil: Implications for predicting the environmental fate of mercury

Despite the recognised risks of human exposure to mercury (Hg), the drivers of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) emissions from the soil remain understudied. In this study, we aimed to identify the environmental parameters that affect the GEM flux from soil and derive the correlations between environmental parameters and GEM flux. Principal component analysis (PCA), factor analysis (FA), and structural equation modelling (SEM) were performed on samples from forest and non-forest sites. The associated results revealed the impact of each environmental parameter on GEM flux, either due to the interaction between the parameters or as a coherent set of parameters. An introductory correlation matrix examining the relationship between two components showed a negative correlation between GEM flux and atmospheric pressure at the two sites, as well as strong correlations between atmospheric pressure and soil temperature. In cases of non-forest open sites with no trees, the PCA and FA results were consistent, indicating that atmospheric pressure, solar irradiance, and soil moisture-defined as primary causality-are largely independent drivers of GEM flux. In contrast, the PCA and FA results for the forest areas with high humidity, tree coverage, and shade were inconsistent, confirming the hypothesis that primary causality affects GEM flux rather than consequent parameters driven by primary causality, such as air and soil temperature and atmospheric humidity. The SEM results provided further evidence for primary and consequent causality as crucial drivers of the GEM flux. This study demonstrates the importance of key primary parameters, such as atmospheric pressure, solar irradiance, and soil moisture content, that can be used to predict mercury release from soils, as well as the importance of consequent parameters, such as air and soil temperature and atmospheric humidity. Monitoring the magnitude of these environmental parameters alone may facilitate the estimation of mercury release from soils and be useful for detailed modelling of soil-air Hg exchange.

Regional Sources and Sinks of Atmospheric Particulate Selenium in the United States Based on Seasonality Profiles

Selenium (Se) is an essential nutrient for humans and enters our food chain through bioavailable Se in soil. Atmospheric deposition is a major source of Se to soils, driving the need to investigate the sources and sinks of atmospheric Se. Here, we used Se concentrations from PM_2.5 data at 82 sites from 1988 to 2010 from the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) network in the US to identify the sources and sinks of particulate Se. We identified 6 distinct seasonal profiles of atmospheric Se, grouped by geographical location: West, Southwest, Midwest, Southeast, Northeast, and North Northeast. Across most of the regions, coal combustion is the largest Se source, with a terrestrial source dominating in the West. We also found evidence for gas-to-particle partitioning in the wintertime in the Northeast. Wet deposition is an important sink of particulate Se, as determined by Se/PM_2.5 ratios. The Se concentrations from the IMPROVE network compare well to modeled output from a global chemistry-climate model, SOCOL-AER, except in the Southeast US. Our analysis constrains the sources and sinks of atmospheric Se, thereby improving the predictions of Se distribution under climate change.

A synthesis of mercury research in the Southern Hemisphere, part 1: Natural processes

Recent studies demonstrate a short 3-6-month atmospheric lifetime for mercury (Hg). This implies Hg emissions are predominantly deposited within the same hemisphere in which they are emitted, thus placing increasing importance on considering Hg sources, sinks and impacts from a hemispheric perspective. In the absence of comprehensive Hg data from the Southern Hemisphere (SH), estimates and inventories for the SH have been drawn from data collected in the NH, with the assumption that the NH data are broadly applicable. In this paper, we centre the uniqueness of the SH in the context of natural biogeochemical Hg cycling, with focus on the midlatitudes and tropics. Due to its uniqueness, Antarctica warrants an exclusive review of its contribution to the biogeochemical cycling of Hg and is therefore excluded from this review. We identify and describe five key natural differences between the hemispheres that affect the biogeochemical cycling of Hg: biome heterogeneity, vegetation type, ocean area, methylation hotspot zones and occurence of volcanic activities. We review the current state of knowledge of SH Hg cycling within the context of each difference, as well as the key gaps that impede our understanding of natural Hg cycling in the SH. The differences demonstrate the limitations in using NH data to infer Hg processes and emissions in the SH.

Surface-air mercury fluxes and a watershed mass balance in forested and harvested catchments

Forest soils are among the world's largest repositories for long-term accumulation of atmospherically deposited mercury (Hg), and understanding the potential for remobilization through gaseous emissions, aqueous dissolution and runoff, or erosive particulate transport to down-gradient aquatic ecosystems is critically important for projecting ecosystem recovery. Forestry operations, especially clear-cut logging where most of the vegetaiton is removed, can influence Hg mobility/fluxes, foodweb dynamics, and bioaccumulation processes. This paper measured surface-air Hg fluxes from catchments in the Pacific Northwest, USA, to determine if there is a difference between forested and logged catchments. These measurements were conducted as part of a larger project on the impact of forestry operations on Hg cycling which include measurements of water fluxes as well as impacts on biota. Surface-air Hg fluxes were measured using a commonly applied dynamic flux chamber (DFC) method that incorporated diel and seasonal variability in elemental Hg (Hg⁰) fluxes at multiple forested and harvested catchments. The results showed that the forested ecosystem had depositional Hg⁰ fluxes throughout most of the year (annual mean: -0.26 ng/m²/h). In contrast, the harvested catchments showed mostly emission of Hg⁰ (annual mean: 0.63 ng/m²/h). Differences in solar radiation reaching the soil was the primary driver resulting in a shift from net deposition to emission in harvested catchments. The surface-air Hg fluxes were larger than the fluxes to water as runoff and accounted for 97% of the differences in Hg sequestered in forested versus harvested catchments.

Observation and estimation of mercury exchange fluxes from soil under different crop cultivars and planting densities in North China Plain

The emission of mercury (Hg) from cropland soil greatly affects the global Hg cycle. Combinations of different crop cultivars and planting densities will result in different light transmittance under canopies, which directly affects the solar and heat radiation flux received by the soil surface below crops. In turn, this might lead to differences in the soil-air total gaseous mercury (TGM) exchange under different cropping patterns. However, soil-air TGM exchange fluxes in croplands under differing canopies have been poorly investigated. Here, a one-year observation of TGM exchange flux was conducted for cropland soils covering five different crop cultivars and three planting densities in North China Plain using the dynamic flux chamber method. The results showed that light transmittance under the canopies was the key control on soil-air TGM exchange fluxes. High light transmittance can enhance soil TGM emission rates and increase the magnitude of diurnal variations in soil-air TGM exchange fluxes. Furthermore, we found that there were piecewise-function relationships (Peak function-constant equation) between light transmittance under the different canopies and the numbers of days after crop sowing. The soil-air TGM exchange fluxes showed a parabolic response to changes in light transmittance under the different canopies. A second-order model was established for the response relationship between soil-air TGM exchange flux and soil Hg concentration, total solar radiation above the canopy, and numbers of days after sowing. The estimated annual average soil-air TGM exchange flux was 5.46 ± 21.69 ng m^-2 h^-1 at corn-wheat rotation cropland with 30 cm row spacing using this second-order model. Our results might a data reference and a promising foundation for future model development of soil-air TGM exchange in croplands under different crop cultivars and planting densities.

Fate of mercury in a terrestial biological lab process using Polypogon monspeliensis and Cyperus odoratus

Mercury has been extracted in Queretaro, Mexico since the 1960s. The mining wastes were open-air disposal and these mercury wastes have polluted the zone. The aim of this research was to evaluate mercury's fate in lab scale terrestrial reactors considering the following mercury species: soluble, interchangeable, strongly bound, organic, and residual ones. Soils were sampled in two former mines of Pinal de Amoles, Queretaro, Mexico (N 20° 58' to 21° 21' and West 99° 26' to 99° 43') with initial mercury concentrations were 424 ± 29 and 433 ± 12 mg kg^-1 for "La Lorena" and "San Jose" former mines, respectively. Two vegetal species Polypogon monspeliensis and Cyperus odoratus were used and 20 reactors were constructed for the lab process. Total mercury was removed to 49-79% from both soils. Mercury elemental, exchangeable, and organic species had the most removal or exchange in the process. Metal uptake, by the plants, was of 5-6% for P. monspeliensis and 5-15% for C. odoratus. Also, mercury fate was estimated to the atmosphere to be 3.3-4.5 mg m^-2 h^-1 for both soils.

Impact of Water-Induced Soil Erosion on the Terrestrial Transport and Atmospheric Emission of Mercury in China

Terrestrial mercury (Hg) transport, induced by water erosion and exacerbated by human activities, constitutes a major disturbance of the natural Hg cycle, but the processes are still not well understood. In this study, we modeled these processes using detailed information on erosion and Hg in soils and found that vast quantities of total Hg (THg) are being removed from land surfaces in China as a result of water erosion, which were estimated at 420 Mg/yr around 2010. This was significantly higher than the 240 Mg/yr mobilized around 1990. The erosion mechanism excavated substantial soil THg, which contributed to enhanced Hg(0) emissions to the atmosphere (4.9 Mg/yr around 2010) and its transport horizontally into streams (310 Mg/yr). Erosion-induced THg transport was driven by the extent of precipitation but was further enhanced or reduced by vegetation cover and land use changes in some regions. Surface air temperature may exacerbate the horizontal THg release into water. Our analyses quantified the processes of erosion-induced THg transport in terrestrial ecosystems, demonstrated its importance, and discussed how this transport is impacted by anthropogenic inputs and legacy THg in soils. We suggest that policy makers should pay more attention to legacy anthropogenic THg sources buried in soil.

Soil surface Hg emission flux in coalfield in Wuda, Inner Mongolia, China

Hg emission flux from various land covers, such as forests, wetlands, and urban areas, have been investigated. China has the largest area of coalfield in the world, but data of Hg flux of coalfields, especially, those with coal fires, are seriously limited. In this study, Hg fluxes of a coalfield were measured using the dynamic flux chamber (DFC) method, coupled with a Lumex multifunctional Hg analyzer RA-915+ (Lumex Ltd., Russia). The results show that the Hg flux in Wuda coalfield ranged from 4 to 318 ng m^-2 h^-1, and the average value for different areas varied, e.g., coal-fire area 99 and 177 ng m^-2 h^-1; no coal-fire area 19 and 32 ng m^-2 h^-1; and backfilling area 53 ng m^-2 h^-1. Hg continued to be emitted from an underground coal seam, even if there were no phenomena, such as vents, cracks, and smog, of coal fire on the soil surface. This phenomenon occurred in all area types, i.e., coal-fire area, no coal-fire area, and backfilling area, which is universal in Wuda coalfield. Considering that many coalfields in northern China are similar to Wuda coalfield, they may be large sources of atmospheric Hg. The correlations of Hg emission flux with influence factors, such as sunlight intensity, soil surface temperature, and atmospheric Hg content, were also investigated for Wuda coalfield. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Exchange pattern of gaseous elemental mercury in landfill: mercury deposition under vegetation coverage and interactive effects of multiple meteorological conditions

Landfill is known as a potential source of atmospheric Hg and an important component of the local or regional atmospheric Hg budget. This study investigated the gaseous elemental Hg surface-air fluxes under differing conditions at a typical municipal solid waste landfill site, highlighting the interactive effects of plant coverage and meteorological conditions. The results indicated that Hg fluxes exhibited a feature represented by diel variation. In particular, Hg deposition was observed under a condition of Kochia sieversiana coverage, whereas emission that occurred after K. sieversiana was removed. Hg emission was the dominant mode under conditions of Setaria viridis coverage and its removal; however, the average Hg emission flux with the S. viridis coverage was nearly four times lower than after its removal. These findings verified that the plant coverage should be a key factor influencing the Hg emission from landfills. In addition, Hg fluxes were correlated positively with solar radiation and air/soil temperature and correlated inversely with relative humidity under all conditions, except K. sieversiana coverage. This suggested that the interactive effects of meteorological conditions and plant coverage played a jointly significant role in the Hg emission from landfills. It was established that K. sieversiana can inhibit Hg emission efficiently, and therefore, it could potentially be suitable for use as a plant-based method to control Hg pollution from landfills.

Mercury evasion from a boreal peatland shortens the timeline for recovery from legacy pollution

Peatlands are a major source of methylmercury that contaminates downstream aquatic food webs. The large store of mercury (Hg) in peatlands could be a source of Hg for over a century even if deposition is dramatically reduced. However, the reliability of Hg mass balances can be questioned due to missing long-term land-atmosphere flux measurements. We used a novel micrometeorological system for continuous measurement of Hg peatland-atmosphere exchange to derive the first annual Hg budget for a peatland. The evasion of Hg (9.4 µg m⁻² yr⁻¹) over the course of a year was seven times greater than stream Hg export, and over two times greater than wet bulk deposition to the boreal peatland. Measurements of dissolved gaseous Hg in the peat pore water also indicate Hg evasion. The net efflux may result from recent declines in atmospheric Hg concentrations that have turned the peatland from a net sink into a source of atmospheric Hg. This net Hg loss suggests that open boreal peatlands and downstream ecosystems can recover more rapidly from past atmospheric Hg deposition than previously assumed. This has important implications for future levels of methylmercury in boreal freshwater fish and the estimation of historical Hg accumulation rates from peat profiles.

Remediation of mercury-polluted soils using artificial wetlands

Mexico's mercury mining industry is important for economic development, but has unfortunately contaminated soils due to open-air disposal. This case was seen at two sites in the municipality of Pinal de Amoles, State of Queretaro, Mexico. This paper presents an evaluation of mercury dynamics and biogeochemistry in two soils (mining waste soil) using ex-situ wetlands over 36 weeks. In soils sampled in two former mines of Pinal de Amoles, initial mercury concentrations were 424 ± 29 and 433 ± 12 mg kg^-1 in La Lorena and San Jose, former mines, respectively. Typha latifolia and Phragmites australis were used and 20 reactors were constructed (with and without plants). The reactors were weekly amended with a nutrient solution (NPK), for each plant, at a pH of 5.0. For remediation using soils from San Jose 70-78% of mercury was removed in T. latifolia reactors and 76-82% in P. australis reactors, and for remediation of soils from La Lorena, mercury content was reduced by 55-71% using T. latifolia and 58-66% in P. australis reactors. Mercury emissions into the atmosphere were estimated to be 2-4 mg m^-2 h^-1 for both soils.

Surface-air mercury fluxes across Western North America: A synthesis of spatial trends and controlling variables

Mercury (Hg) emission and deposition can occur to and from soils, and are an important component of the global atmospheric Hg budget. This paper focuses on synthesizing existing surface-air Hg flux data collected throughout the Western North American region and is part of a series of geographically focused Hg synthesis projects. A database of existing Hg flux data collected using the dynamic flux chamber (DFC) approach from almost a thousand locations was created for the Western North America region. Statistical analysis was performed on the data to identify the important variables controlling Hg fluxes and to allow spatiotemporal scaling. The results indicated that most of the variability in soil-air Hg fluxes could be explained by variations in soil-Hg concentrations, solar radiation, and soil moisture. This analysis also identified that variations in DFC methodological approaches were detectable among the field studies, with the chamber material and sampling flushing flow rate influencing the magnitude of calculated emissions. The spatiotemporal scaling of soil-air Hg fluxes identified that the largest emissions occurred from irrigated agricultural landscapes in California. Vegetation was shown to have a large impact on surface-air Hg fluxes due to both a reduction in solar radiation reaching the soil as well as from direct uptake of Hg in foliage. Despite high soil Hg emissions from some forested and other heavily vegetated regions, the net ecosystem flux (soil flux+vegetation uptake) was low. Conversely, sparsely vegetated regions showed larger net ecosystem emissions, which were similar in magnitude to atmospheric Hg deposition (except for the Mediterranean California region where soil emissions were higher). The net ecosystem flux results highlight the important role of landscape characteristics in effecting the balance between Hg sequestration and (re-)emission to the atmosphere.

New Constraints on Terrestrial Surface-Atmosphere Fluxes of Gaseous Elemental Mercury Using a Global Database

Despite 30 years of study, gaseous elemental mercury (Hg(0)) exchange magnitude and controls between terrestrial surfaces and the atmosphere still remain uncertain. We compiled data from 132 studies, including 1290 reported fluxes from more than 200,000 individual measurements, into a database to statistically examine flux magnitudes and controls. We found that fluxes were unevenly distributed, both spatially and temporally, with strong biases toward Hg-enriched sites, daytime and summertime measurements. Fluxes at Hg-enriched sites were positively correlated with substrate concentrations, but this was absent at background sites. Median fluxes over litter- and snow-covered soils were lower than over bare soils, and chamber measurements showed higher emission compared to micrometeorological measurements. Due to low spatial extent, estimated emissions from Hg-enriched areas (217 Mg·a(-1)) were lower than previous estimates. Globally, areas with enhanced atmospheric Hg(0) levels (particularly East Asia) showed an emerging importance of Hg(0) emissions accounting for half of the total global emissions estimated at 607 Mg·a(-1), although with a large uncertainty range (-513 to 1353 Mg·a(-1) [range of 37.5th and 62.5th percentiles]). The largest uncertainties in Hg(0) fluxes stem from forests (-513 to 1353 Mg·a(-1) [range of 37.5th and 62.5th percentiles]), largely driven by a shortage of whole-ecosystem fluxes and uncertain contributions of leaf-atmosphere exchanges, questioning to what degree ecosystems are net sinks or sources of atmospheric Hg(0).

Volatilization of elemental mercury from fresh blast furnace sludge mixed with basic oxygen furnace sludge under different temperatures

Blast furnace sludge (BFS) is a waste with elevated mercury (Hg) content due to enrichment during the production process of pig iron. To investigate the volatilization potential of Hg, fresh samples of BFS mixed with basic oxygen furnace sludge (BOFS; a residue of gas purification from steel making, processed simultaneously in the cleaning devices of BFS and hence mixed with BFS) were studied in sealed column experiments at different temperatures (15, 25, and 35 °C) for four weeks (total Hg: 0.178 mg kg(-1)). The systems were regularly flushed with ambient air (every 24 h for the first 100 h, followed by every 72 h) for 20 min at a flow rate of 0.25 ± 0.03 L min(-1) and elemental Hg vapor was trapped on gold coated sand. Volatilization was 0.276 ± 0.065 ng (x m: 0.284 ng) at 15 °C, 5.55 ± 2.83 ng (x m: 5.09 ng) at 25 °C, and 2.37 ± 0.514 ng (x m: 2.34 ng) at 35 °C. Surprisingly, Hg fluxes were lower at 35 than 25 °C. For all temperature variants, an elevated Hg flux was observed within the first 100 h followed by a decrease of volatilization thereafter. However, the background level of ambient air was not achieved at the end of the experiments indicating that BFS mixed with BOFS still possessed Hg volatilization potential.

Soil-Air Mercury Flux near a Large Industrial Emission Source before and after Closure (Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada)

Prior to its closure, the base-metal smelter in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada was one of the North America's largest mercury (Hg) emission sources. Our project objective was to understand the exchange of Hg between the soil and the air before and after the smelter closure. Field and laboratory Hg flux measurements were conducted to identify the controlling variables and used for spatial and temporal scaling. Study results showed that deposition from the smelter resulted in the surrounding soil being enriched in Hg (up to 99 μg g(-1)) as well as other metals. During the period of smelter operation, air concentrations were elevated (30 ± 19 ng m(-3)), and the soil was a net Hg sink (daily flux: -3.8 ng m(-2) h(-1)). Following the smelter closure, air Hg(0) concentrations were reduced, and the soils had large emissions (daily flux: 108 ng m(-2) h(-1)). The annual scaling of soil Hg emissions following the smelter closure indicated that the landscape impacted by smelter deposition emitted or re-emitted almost 100 kg per year. Elevated soil Hg concentrations and emissions are predicted to continue for hundreds of years before background concentrations are re-established. Overall, the results indicate that legacy Hg deposition will continue to cycle in the environment long after point-source reductions.

Susceptibility of Soil Bound Mercury to Gaseous Emission As a Function of Source Depth: An Enriched Isotope Tracer Investigation

Soil mercury (Hg) emissions are an important component of the global Hg cycle. Sunlight induced photoreduction of oxidized Hg to gaseous elemental Hg is an important mechanism controlling emissions from the soil surface, however we currently understand little about how subsurface Hg stores participate in gaseous Hg cycling. Our study objective was to investigate the ability of Hg at deeper soil depths to participate in emissions. Soil fluxes were measured under controlled laboratory conditions utilizing an enriched stable Hg isotope tracer buried at 0, 1, 2, and 5 cm below the surface. Under dry and low-light conditions, the Hg isotope tracer buried at the different depths participated similarly in surface emissions (median flux: 7.5 ng m(-2) h(-1)). When the soils were wetted, Hg isotope tracer emissions increased significantly (up to 285 ng m(-2) h(-1)), with the highest fluxes (76% of emissions) originating from the surface 1 cm amended soils and decreasing with depth. Mercury associated with sandy soil up to 6 cm below the surface can be emitted, clearly demonstrating that volatilization can occur via processes unrelated to sunlight. These results have important implications for considering how long older, legacy soil Hg contamination continues to cycle between soil and atmosphere.

Quantifying the effects of soil temperature, moisture and sterilization on elemental mercury formation in boreal soils

Soils are a source of elemental mercury (Hg(0)) to the atmosphere, however the effects of soil temperature and moisture on Hg(0) formation is not well defined. This research quantifies the effect of varying soil temperature (278-303 K), moisture (15-80% water filled pore space (WFPS)) and sterilization on the kinetics of Hg(0) formation in forested soils of Nova Scotia, Canada. Both, the logarithm of cumulative mass of Hg(0) formed in soils and the reduction rate constants (k values) increased with temperature and moisture respectively. Sterilizing soils significantly (p < 0.05, n = 10) decreased the percent of total Hg reduced to Hg(0). We describe the fundamentals of Hg(0) formation in soils and our results highlight two key processes: (i) a fast abiotic process that peaks at 45% WFPS and depletes a small pool of Hg(0) and; (ii) a slower, rate limiting biotic process that generates a large pool of reducible Hg(II).

A simulation study of mercury release fluxes from soils in wet-dry rotation environment

A simulative mesocosm study was conducted to evaluate the influence of wet-dry rotation on mercury (Hg) flux from soil/water to air and the distribution of Hg species in water as well as Hg chemical fractions in soil. Three types of soil were employed including two kinds of paddy soil, Typic Purpli-Udic Cambosols (TPUC) and Xanthi-Udic Ferralosols (XUF), as well as the Alluvial Soil (AS) from Three Gorge reservoir area in Chongqing, China. The results showed that Hg fluxes in wetting periods were significantly higher than that in drying periods. It might be due to the formation of a layer of stable air over the water surface in which some redox reactions promote evasion processes over the water surface. This result indicated that more Hg would be evaporated from the Three Gorge reservoir and paddy soil field during the flooding season. Hg fluxes were positively correlated with air temperature and solar irradiation, while negatively correlated with air humidity and the electronic conductivity of water. Hg fluxes from AS and TPUC were significantly higher than that from XUF, which might be due to the higher organic matter (OM) contents in XUF than TPUC and AS. The reduction processes of oxidized Hg were restrained due to the strong binding of Hg to OM, resulting in the decrease in Hg flux from the soil.

Vertical profile measurements of soil air suggest immobilization of gaseous elemental mercury in mineral soil

Evasion of gaseous elemental Hg (Hg(0)g) from soil surfaces is an important source of atmospheric Hg, but the volatility and solid-gas phase partitioning of Hg(0) within soils is poorly understood. We developed a novel system to continuously measure Hg(0)g concentrations in soil pores at multiple depths and locations, and present a total of 297 days of measurements spanning 14 months in two forests in the Sierra Nevada mountains, California, U.S. Temporal patterns showed consistent pore Hg(0)g concentrations below levels measured in the atmosphere (termed Hg(0)g immobilization), ranging from 66 to 94% below atmospheric concentrations throughout multiple seasons. The lowest pore Hg(0)g concentrations were observed in the deepest soil layers (40 cm), but significant immobilization was already present in the top 7 cm. In the absence of sinks or sources, pore Hg(0)g levels would be in equilibrium with atmospheric concentrations due to the porous nature of the soil matrix and gas diffusion. Therefore, we explain decreases in pore Hg(0)g in mineral soils below atmospheric concentrations--or below levels found in upper soils as observed in previous studies--with the presence of an Hg(0)g sink in mineral soils possibly related to Hg(0)g oxidation or other processes such as sorption or dissolution in soil water. Surface chamber measurements showing daytime Hg(0)g emissions and nighttime Hg(0)g deposition indicate that near-surface layers likely dominate net atmospheric Hg(0)g exchange resulting in typical diurnal cycles due to photochemcial reduction at the surface and possibly Hg(0)g evasion from litter layers. In contrast, mineral soils seem to be decoupled from this surface exchange, showing consistent Hg(0)g uptake and downward redistribution--although our calculations indicate these fluxes to be minor compared to other mass fluxes. A major implication is that once Hg is incorporated into mineral soils, it may be unlikely subjected to renewed Hg(0)g re-emission from undisturbed, background soils emphasizing the important role of soils in sequestering past and current Hg pollution loads.

Fast time resolution oxidized mercury measurements during the Reno Atmospheric Mercury Intercomparison Experiment (RAMIX)

The Reno Atmospheric Mercury Intercomparison Experiment (RAMIX) was carried out from 22 August to 16 September, 2011 in Reno, NV to evaluate the performance of new and existing methods to measure atmospheric mercury (Hg). Measurements were made using a common sampling manifold to which controlled concentrations of Hg species, including gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) and HgBr2 (a surrogate gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) compound), and potential interferents were added. We present an analysis of Hg measurements made using the University of Washington's Detector for Oxidized Hg Species (DOHGS), focusing on tests of GEM and HgBr2 spike recovery, the potential for interference from ozone (O3) and water vapor (WV), and temporal variability of ambient reactive mercury (RM). The mean GEM and HgBr2 spike recoveries measured with the DOHGS were 95% and 66%, respectively. The DOHGS responded linearly to HgBr2. We found no evidence that elevated O3 interfered in the DOHGS RM measurements. A reduction in RM collection and retention efficiencies at very high ambient WV mixing ratios is possible. Comparisons between the DOHGS and participating Hg instruments demonstrate good agreement for GEM and large discrepancies for RM. The results suggest that existing GOM measurements are biased low.

Novel dynamic flux chamber for measuring air-surface exchange of Hg(o) from soils

Quantifying the air-surface exchange of Hg(o) from soils is critical to understanding the cycling of mercury in different environmental compartments. Dynamic flux chambers (DFCs) have been widely employed for Hg(o) flux measurement over soils. However, DFCs of different sizes, shapes, and sampling flow rates yield distinct measured fluxes for a soil substrate under identical environmental conditions. In this study, we performed an integrated modeling, laboratory and field study to design a DFC capable of producing a steady and uniform air flow over a flat surface. The new DFC was fabricated using polycarbonate sheets. The internal velocity field was experimentally verified against model predictions using both theoretical and computational fluid dynamics techniques, suggesting fully developed flow with velocity profiles in excellent agreement with model results. Laboratory flux measurements demonstrated that the new design improves data reproducibility as compared to a conventional DFC, and reproduces the model-predicted flux trend with increasing sampling flow. A mathematical relationship between the sampling flow rate and surface friction velocity, a variable commonly parametrized in atmospheric models, was developed for field application. For the first time, the internal shear property of a DFC can be precisely controlled using the sampling flow rate, and the flux under atmospheric condition can be inferred from the measured flux and surface shear property. The demonstrated methodology potentially bridges the gap in measured fluxes obtained by the DFC method and the micrometeorological methods.

Investigation of factors affecting gaseous mercury concentrations in soils

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of soil temperature, soil moisture, redox potential (Eh) and soil organic matter (SOM) on the total gaseous mercury (TGM) concentrations in background soils. Our measurements were made in a grass field and deciduous forest at the Piney Reservoir Ambient Air Monitoring Station (PRAAMS) in Garrett County, Maryland. Three plots in each area were sampled every third week from July 2009 to June 2010 at the Oe-A soil horizon interface, the A-E soil horizon interface, and 5 and 10 cm into the E soil horizon. The mean soil TGM concentration for all depths in the forest (2.3 ± 2.2 ng m(-3)) was significantly higher than the mean soil TGM concentration in the grass field (1.5 ± 1.9 ng m(-3)). Soil TGM at all depths was most strongly and consistently correlated to soil temperature. The soil TGM concentrations were highest and most variable at the forest Oe-A soil horizon interface (4.1 ± 2.0 ng m(-3)), ranging from 1.5 to 8.4 ng m(-3). This soil horizon interface had 11 to 26% more SOM and the soil Eh was 100 to 400 mV lower than the other soil depths. Our results suggest that soil temperature, soil Eh and SOM are significant factors affecting TGM concentrations in forest soils. Future studies of TGM dynamics in background soils may benefit from closely monitoring the organic soil horizon.

A synthesis of rates and controls on elemental mercury evasion in the Great Lakes Basin

Rates of surface-air elemental mercury (Hg(0)) fluxes in the literature were synthesized for the Great Lakes Basin (GLB). For the majority of surfaces, fluxes were net positive (evasion). Digital land-cover data were combined with representative evasion rates and used to estimate annual Hg(0) evasion for the GLB (7.7 Mg/yr). This value is less than our estimate of total Hg deposition to the area (15.9 Mg/yr), suggesting the GLB is a net sink for atmospheric Hg. The greatest contributors to annual evasion for the basin are agricultural (∼55%) and forest (∼25%) land cover types, and the open water of the Great Lakes (∼15%). Areal evasion rates were similar across most land cover types (range: 7.0-21.0 μg/m(2)-yr), with higher rates associated with urban (12.6 μg/m(2)-yr) and agricultural (21.0 μg/m(2)-yr) lands. Uncertainty in these estimates could be partially remedied through a unified methodological approach to estimating Hg(0) fluxes.

Measurement and scaling of air-surface mercury exchange from substrates in the vicinity of two Nevada gold mines

The state of Nevada has extensive mineral resources, and is the largest producer of gold in the USA as well as fourth in world gold production. Mercury (Hg) is often present in the hydrothermal systems that produce gold deposits, and can be found in elevated concentrations in gold ore. As a result, mining of gold ore in Nevada has been shown to release Hg to the atmosphere from point and non-point sources. This project focused on measurement of air-soil Hg exchange associated with undisturbed soils and bedrock outcrops in the vicinity of two large gold mines. Field and laboratory data collected were used to identify the important variables controlling Hg flux from these surfaces, and to estimate a net flux from the areas adjacent to the active mines as well as that occurring from the mined area pre-disturbance. Mean daily flux by substrate type ranged from 9 ng m(-2) day(-1) to 140 ng m(-2) day(-1). Periods of net deposition of elemental Hg were observed when air masses originating from a mine site moved over sampling locations. Based on these observations and measured soil Hg concentrations we suggest that emissions from point and non-point sources at the mines are a source of Hg to the surrounding substrates with the amount deposited not being of an environmental concern but of interest mainly with respect to the cycling of atmospheric elemental Hg. Observations indicate that while some component of the deposited Hg is sequestered in the soil, this Hg is gradually released back to the atmosphere over time. Estimated pre-disturbance emissions from the current mine footprints based on field data were 0.1 and 1.7 kg yr(-1), compared to that estimated for the current non-point mining sources of 19 and 109 kg yr(-1), respectively.

Measurements of gaseous mercury exchanges at the sediment-water, water-atmosphere and sediment-atmosphere interfaces of a tidal environment (Arcachon Bay, France)

The elemental mercury evasion from non-impacted natural areas is of significant importance in the global Hg cycle due to their large spatial coverage. Intertidal areas represent a dynamic environment promoting the transformations of Hg species and their subsequent redistribution. A major challenge remains in providing reliable data on Hg species variability and fluxes under typical transient tidal conditions found in such environment. Field experiments were thus carried out to allow the assessment and comparison of the magnitude of the gaseous Hg fluxes at the three interfaces, sediment-water, sediment-atmosphere and water-atmosphere of a mesotidal temperate lagoon (Arcachon Bay, Aquitaine, France) over three distinct seasonal conditions. The fluxes between the sediment-water and the sediment-atmosphere interfaces were directly evaluated with field flux chambers, respectively static or dynamic. Water-atmosphere fluxes were evaluated from ambient concentrations using a gas exchange model. The fluxes at the sediment-water interface ranged from -5.0 to 5.1 ng m(-2) h(-1) and appeared mainly controlled by diffusion. The occurrence of macrophytic covers (i.e.Zostera noltii sp.) enhanced the fluxes under light radiations. The first direct measurements of sediment-atmosphere fluxes are reported here. The exchanges were more intense and variable than the two other interfaces, ranging between -78 and 40 ng m(-2) h(-1) and were mostly driven by the overlying atmospheric Hg concentrations and superficial sediment temperature. The exchanges between the water column and the atmosphere, computed as a function of wind speed and gaseous mercury saturation ranged from 0.4 to 14.5 ng m(-2) h(-1). The flux intensities recorded over the intertidal sediments periodically exposed to the atmosphere were roughly 2 to 3 times higher than the fluxes of the other interfaces. The evasion of elemental mercury from emerged intertidal sediments is probably a significant pathway for Hg evasion in such tidal environments exhibiting background contamination level.

Scaling non-point-source mercury emissions from two active industrial gold mines: influential variables and annual emission estimates

Open-pit gold mines encompass thousands of hectares of disturbed materials that are often naturally enriched in mercury (Hg). The objective of this study was to estimate annual non-point-source Hg emissions from two active gold mines in Nevada. This was achieved by measuring diel and seasonally representative Hg fluxes from mesocosms of materials collected from each mine. These measurements provided a framework for scaling emissions over space and time at each mine by identifying the important variables correlated with Hg flux. The validity of these correlations was tested by comparisons with measurements conducted in situ at the mines. Of the average diel fluxes obtained in situ (92 daily flux measurements), 81% were within the 95% prediction limits of the regressions developed from the laboratory-derived data. Some surfaces at the mines could not be simulated in the laboratory setting (e.g., material actively leached by cyanide solution and tailings saturated with cyanide solution), and as such in situ data were applied for scaling. Based on the surface areas of the materials and environmental conditions at the mines during the year of study, non-point-source Hg releases were estimated to be 19 and 109 kg·year(-1). These account for 56% and 14%, respectively, of the overall emissions from each mine (point + nonpoint sources). Material being heap-leached and active tailings impoundments were the major contributors to the releases (>60% combined) suggesting that as mining operations cease, releases will decline.

Measurement of surface mercury fluxes at active industrial gold mines in Nevada (USA)

Mercury (Hg) may be naturally associated with the rock units hosting precious and base metal deposits. Active gold mines are known to have point source releases of Hg associated with ore processing facilities. The nonpoint source release of Hg to the air from the large area (hundreds to thousands of hectares) of disturbed and processed material at industrial open pit gold mines has not been quantified. This paper describes the field data collected as part of a project focused on estimating nonpoint source emissions of Hg from two active mines in Nevada, USA. In situ Hg flux data were collected on diel and seasonal time steps using a dynamic flux chamber from representative mine surfaces. Hg fluxes ranged from <1500 ng m(-2) day(-1) for waste rock piles (0.6-3.5 μg g(-1)) to 684,000 ng m(-2) day(-1) for tailings (2.8-58 μg g(-1)). Releases were positively correlated with material Hg concentrations, surface grain size, and moisture content. Highest Hg releases occurred from materials under active cyanide leaching and from tailings impoundments containing processed high-grade ore. Data collected indicate that as mine sites are reclaimed and material disturbance ceases, emissions will decline. Additionally local cycling of atmospheric Hg (deposition and re-emission) was found to occur.

Gaseous elemental mercury emissions and CO(2) respiration rates in terrestrial soils under controlled aerobic and anaerobic laboratory conditions

Mercury (Hg) levels in terrestrial soils are linked to the presence of organic carbon (C). Carbon pools are highly dynamic and subject to mineralization processes, but little is known about the fate of Hg during decomposition. This study evaluated relationships between gaseous Hg emissions from soils and carbon dioxide (CO(2)) respiration under controlled laboratory conditions to assess potential losses of Hg to the atmosphere during C mineralization. Results showed a linear correlation (r(2)=0.49) between Hg and CO(2) emissions in 41 soil samples, an effect unlikely to be caused by temperature, radiation, different Hg contents, or soil moisture. Stoichiometric comparisons of Hg/C ratios of emissions and underlying soil substrates suggest that 3% of soil Hg was subject to evasion. Even minute emissions of Hg upon mineralization, however, may be important on a global scale given the large Hg pools sequestered in terrestrial soils and C stocks. We induced changes in CO(2) respiration rates and observed Hg flux responses, including inducement of anaerobic conditions by changing chamber air supply from N(2)/O(2) (80% and 20%, respectively) to pure N(2). Unexpectedly, Hg emissions almost quadrupled after O(2) deprivation while oxidative mineralization (i.e., CO(2) emissions) was greatly reduced. This Hg flux response to anaerobic conditions was lacking when repeated with sterilized soils, possibly due to involvement of microbial reduction of Hg(2+) by anaerobes or indirect abiotic effects such as alterations in soil redox conditions. This study provides experimental evidence that Hg volatilization, and possibly Hg(2+) reduction, is related to O(2) availability in soils from two Sierra Nevada forests. If this result is confirmed in soils from other areas, the implication is that Hg volatilization from terrestrial soils is partially controlled by soil aeration and that low soil O(2) levels and possibly low soil redox potentials lead to increased Hg volatilization from soils.

A note on elevated total gaseous mercury concentrations downwind from an agriculture field during tilling

Elevated mercury concentrations were measured at the University of Connecticut's mercury forest flux tower during spring agricultural field operations on an adjacent corn field. Concentrations at the tower were elevated, a peak of 7.03 ng m(-3) over the background concentration of 1.74+/-0.26 ng m(-3), during times when the prevailing wind was from the direction of the corn field and during periods when the soil was disturbed by tilling. Strong deposition to the forest was recorded at the point of measurement when atmospheric mercury concentrations were elevated. The strongest deposition rate was a 1 hour maximum of -4011 ng m(-2) h(-1) following the initial peak in atmospheric concentrations, Analyses of the meteorological conditions and mercury content in agricultural soil, manure and the diesel consumed in the tilling operation indicate that the source of the mercury was from the agricultural tilling operations and it was advected over the tower enriching the atmospheric concentrations above the forest canopy leading to deposition. These results indicate that agriculture operations resulting in a disturbed soil surface may be a source of atmospheric mercury originating from the pool of mercury bound in the soil. This represents a previously undocumented source of mercury emissions resulting from anthropogenic activities.

Intercomparison study of atmospheric mercury models: 1. Comparison of models with short-term measurements

Five regional scale models with a horizontal domain covering the European continent and its surrounding seas, one hemispheric and one global scale model participated in an atmospheric mercury modelling intercomparison study. Model-predicted concentrations in ambient air were compared against mercury species observed at four monitoring stations in Central and Northern Europe and a station on the Irish west coast. The modelled concentrations of total particulate mercury (TPM) were generally consistent with the measurements at all sites. The models exhibited significant ability to simulate concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), but some of the short-duration peaks at the Central European stations could not be consistently reproduced. Possible reasons for these discrepancies include (1) errors in the anthropogenic emissions inventory utilized; (2) coarse spatial resolution of the models; and (3) uncertainty of natural and re-emitted mercury sources. The largest discrepancies between measurements and modelled concentrations were found for reactive gaseous mercury (RGM). For these models, the uncertainty in predicting short-term (two-week episode) variations of mercury species in air can be characterized by the following overall statistics: 90% of the results for TGM are within a factor of 1.35 of the measurements; for TPM, 90% are within a factor of 2.5; and for RGM, 90% are within a factor of 10.

Laboratory simulation of Hg0 emissions from a snowpack

Snow surfaces play an important role in the biogeochemical cycle of mercury in high-latitude regions. Snowpacks act both as sources and sinks for gaseous compounds. Surprisingly, the roles of each environmental parameter that can govern the air-surface exchange over snow are not well understood owing to the lack of systematic studies. A laboratory system called the laboratory flux measurement system was used to study the emission of gaseous elemental mercury from a natural snowpack under controlled conditions. The first results from three snowpacks originating from alpine, urban and polar areas are presented. Consistent with observations in the field, we were able to reproduce gaseous mercury emissions and showed that they are mainly driven by solar radiation and especially UV-B radiation. From these laboratory experiments, we derived kinetic constants which show that divalent mercury can have a short natural lifetime of about 4-6 h in snow.

Analytical artifacts produced by a polycarbonate chamber compared to a Teflon chamber for measuring surface mercury fluxes

We found significant differences in mercury fluxes measured with a dynamic surface mercury flux chamber made of Teflon versus one made of polycarbonate. While both materials responded reasonably well when virgin materials were used, the polycarbonate chamber was found to exhibit significant chamber blanks under light after it was exposed to surface mercury fluxes of >100 ng/m2/h. Most significantly, the polycarbonate chamber blocked all wavelengths of light below approximately 320 nm. Given that ultraviolet radiation plays an important role in soil mercury flux, the polycarbonate chamber was found to significantly underestimate observed fluxes from background soil in both high light conditions (by 1-4-fold) and under diffuse, low light conditions (by approximately 10-fold). These results suggest that Teflon produces fewer analytical artifacts in the surface emission of mercury measured with a flux chamber than polycarbonate.

Atmospheric mercury emissions from polluted gold mining areas (Venezuela)

Soil, waste rock and mud from mercury-gold amalgamation mining areas of El Callao (Venezuela) are highly enriched in Hg (0.5-500 microg g(-1)) relative to natural background concentrations (<0.1 microg g(-1)). Mercury fluxes to the atmosphere from twelve polluted sites of this area were measured in situ (6 a.m. to 8 p.m.) using a Plexiglas flux chamber connected to a portable mercury analyzer (model RA-915+; Lumex, St. Petersburg, Russia). Mercury fluxes ranged between 0.65 and 420.1 microg m(-2) h(-1), and the average flux range during the diurnal hours was 9.1-239.2 microg m(-2) h(-1). These flux values are five orders of magnitude higher than both reported world background Hg fluxes (1-69 ng m(-2) h(-1)) and the regional values, which are in the range 2-10 ng m(-2) h(-1). The flux results obtained in this study are, however, similar to those measured at Hg polluted sites such as chloro-alkali plants or polymetallic ore mining districts (>100,000 ng m(-2) h(-1)). The results from this study also show that Hg emissions from the soil are influenced by solar radiation, soil temperature and soil Hg concentration. Our data suggest that solar radiation may be the dominant factor affecting Hg degrees emission since the major species of mercury in polluted soil is Hg degrees (85-97% of total Hg). The simple release of Hg degrees vapor is probably the dominant process occurring with incident light in the field. The apparent activation energy for mercury emission indicates that the volatilization of mercury mainly occurred as a result of the vaporization of elemental mercury in soil. The degree of Hg emission differed significantly among the soil sites studied, which may be due to variations in soil texture, organic matter content and soil compaction.

Development and application of a laboratory flux measurement system (LFMS) for the investigation of the kinetics of mercury emissions from soils

Recent measurements at different locations suggest that the emission of mercury from soils may play a more pronounced role in the global mercury cycle as suggested by global emission inventories and global mercury cycling models. For up scaling and modelling of mercury emissions from soils a comprehensive assessment of the processes controlling the emission of mercury from soils is imperative. We have developed a laboratory flux measurement system (LFMS) to study the effect of major environmental variables on the emission of mercury under controlled conditions. We have investigated the effects of turbulent mixing, soil temperature and solar radiation on the emission of mercury from soils. The emission of mercury from soils is constant over time under constant experimental conditions. The response of the mercury emission flux to variations of the atmospheric transfer parameters such as turbulence requires a rapid adjustment of the equilibrium that controls the Hg(o) concentration in the soil air. It has been shown that the light-induced flux is independent of the soil temperature and shows a strong spectral response to UV-B.

Assessing the potential for re-emission of mercury deposited in precipitation from arid soils using a stable isotope

A solution containing 198Hg in the form of HgCl2 was added to a 4 m2 area of desert soils in Nevada, and soil Hg fluxes were measured using three dynamic flux chambers. There was an immediate release of 198Hg after it was applied, and then emissions decreased exponentially. Within the first 6 h after the isotope was added to the soil, approximately 12 ng m(-2) of 198Hg was emitted to the atmosphere, followed by a relatively steady flux of the isotope at 0.2 +/- 0.2 ng m(-2) h(-1) for the remainder of the experiment (62 days). Over this time, approximately 200 ng m(-2) or 2% of the 198Hg isotope was emitted from the soil, and we estimate that approximately 6% of the isotope would be re-emitted in a year's time. During the experiment, dry deposition of elemental Hg from the atmosphere was measured with an average deposition rate of 0.2 +/- 0.1 ng m(-2) h(-1). Emission of ambient Hg from the soil was observed after soil wetting with the isotope solution and after a storm event. However, the added moisture from the storm event did not affect 198Hg flux. Results suggest that in this desert environment, where there is limited precipitation, Hg deposited by wet processes is not readily re-emitted and that dry deposition of elemental Hg may be an important process.

Principal biogeochemical factors affecting the speciation and transport of mercury through the terrestrial environment

It is increasingly becoming known that mercury transport and speciation in the terrestrial environment play major roles in methyl-mercury bioaccumulation potential in surface water. This review discusses the principal biogeochemical reactions affecting the transport and speciation of mercury in the terrestrial watershed. The issues presented are mercury-ligand formation, mercury adsorption/desorption, and elemental mercury reduction and volatilization. In terrestrial environments, OH-, Cl- and S- ions have the largest influence on ligand formation. Under oxidized surface soil conditions Hg(OH)2, HgCl2, HgOH+, HgS, and Hg0 are the predominant inorganic mercury forms. In reduced environments, common mercury forms are HgSH+, HgOHSH, and HgClSH. Many of these mercury forms are further bound to organic and inorganic ligands. Mercury adsorption to mineral and organic surfaces is mainly dictated by two factors: pH and dissolved ions. An increase in Cl- concentration and a decrease in pH can, together or separately, decrease mercury adsorption. Clay and organic soils have the highest capability of adsorbing mercury. Important parameters that increase abiotic inorganic mercury reduction are availability of electron donors, low redox potential, and sunlight intensity. Primary factors that increase volatilization are soil permeability and temperature. A decrease in mercury adsorption and an increase in soil moisture will also increase volatilization. The effect of climate on biogeochemical reactions in the terrestrial watershed indicates mercury speciation and transport to receiving water will vary on a regional basis.

Modelling of mercury emissions from background soils

Emissions of volatile mercury species from natural soils are believed to be a significant contributor to the atmospheric burden of mercury, but only order-of-magnitude estimates of emissions from these sources are available. The scaling-up of mercury flux measurements to regional or global scales is confounded by a limited understanding of the physical, chemical and biochemical processes that occur in the soil, a complex environmental matrix. This study is a first step toward the development of an air-surface exchange model for mercury (known as the mercury emission model (MEM)). The objective of the study is to model the partitioning and movement of inorganic Hg(II) and Hg(0) in open field soils, and to use MEM to interpret published data on mercury emissions to the atmosphere. MEM is a multi-layered, dynamic finite-element soil and atmospheric surface-layer model that simulates the exchange of heat, moisture and mercury between soils and the atmosphere. The model includes a simple formulation of the reduction of inorganic Hg(II) to Hg(0). Good agreement was found between the meteorological dependence of observed mercury emission fluxes, and hourly modelled fluxes, and it is concluded that MEM is able to simulate well the soil and atmospheric processes influencing the emission of Hg(0) to the atmosphere. The heretofore unexplained close correlation between soil temperature and mercury emission flux is fully modelled by MEM and is attributed to the temperature dependence of the Hg(0) Henry's Law coefficient and the control of the volumetric soil-air fraction on the diffusion of Hg(0) near the surface. The observed correlation between solar radiation intensity and mercury flux, appears in part to be due to the surface-energy balance between radiation, and sensible and latent heat fluxes which determines the soil temperature. The modelled results imply that empirical correlations that are based only on flux chamber data, may not extend to the open atmosphere for all weather scenarios.

Experimental evidence against diffusion control of Hg evasion from soils

Elemental Hg (Hg(0)) evolution from soils can be an important process and needs to be measured in more ecosystems. The diffusion model for soil gaseous efflux has been applied to modeling the fluxes of several gases in soils and deserves testing with regard to Hg(0). As an initial test of this model, we examined soil gaseous Hg(0) and CO(2) concentrations at two depths (20 and 40 cm) over the course of a controlled environment study conducted in the EcoCELLs at the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada. We also compared small, spatially distributed gas wells against the more commonly used large gas wells. In this study, two EcoCELLs were first watered (June 2000) and then planted (July 2000) with trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides). Following that, trees were harvested (October 2000) and one EcoCELL (EcoCELL 2) was replanted with aspen (25 April 2001). During most of the experiment, there was a strong vertical gradient of CO(2) (increasing with depth, as is typical of a diffusion-driven process), but no vertical gradient of soil gaseous Hg(0). Strong diel variations in soil gas Hg(0) concentration were noted, whereas diel variations in CO(2) were small and not statistically significant. Initial watering and planting caused increases in both soil gas CO(2) and Hg(0). Replanting in EcoCELL 2 caused a statistically significant increase in soil gas CO(2) but not Hg(0). Calculated Hg(0) effluxes using the diffusion model produced values two orders of magnitude lower than those measured using field chambers placed directly on the soil or whole-cell fluxes. Neither soil gas Hg(0) concentrations nor calculated fluxes were correlated with measured Hg(0) efflux from soil or from whole EcoCELLs. We conclude that (1) soil gas Hg(0) flux is not diffusion-driven and thus soil gas Hg(0) concentrations cannot be used to calculated soil Hg(0) efflux; (2) soil gas Hg(0) concentrations are increased by watering dry soil, probably because of displacement/desorption processes; (3) soil gas Hg(0) concentrations were unaffected by plants, suggesting that roots and rhizosphere processes are unimportant in controlling Hg(0) evasion from the soil surface. We recommend the use of the small wells in all future studies because they are much easier to install and provide more resolution of spatial and temporal patterns in soil gaseous Hg(0).