Climate and Vegetation As Primary Drivers for Global Mercury Storage in Surface Soil

Wang, Xun; Yuan, Wei; Lin, Che‐Jen; Zhang, Leiming; Hui, Zhang; Feng, Xinbin

doi:10.1021/acs.est.9b02386

Cited by 104 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 89 publications

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“…Soil samples were placed in sterile, doubled-zipped PVC bags and kept at −20 • C during transport and storage. To avoid contami-nation of peat from external surroundings, we separated the part of the core for geochemical analysis exclusively from the interior of the core (> 1 cm from the core liner) following conventional procedures (Wilhelm et al, 2011).…”

Section: Sampling Procedure Analyses and Data Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

A revised pan-Arctic permafrost soil Hg pool based on Western Siberian peat Hg and carbon observations

et al. 2020

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Abstract. Natural and anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emissions are sequestered in terrestrial soils over short, annual to long, millennial timescales before Hg mobilization and run-off impact wetland and coastal ocean ecosystems. Recent studies have used Hg-to-carbon (C) ratios (RHgC's) measured in Alaskan permafrost mineral and peat soils together with a northern circumpolar permafrost soil carbon inventory to estimate that these soils contain large amounts of Hg (between 184 and 755 Gg) in the upper 1 m. However, measurements of RHgC on Siberian permafrost peatlands are largely missing, leaving the size of the estimated northern soil Hg budget and its fate under Arctic warming scenarios uncertain. Here we present Hg and carbon data for six peat cores down to mineral horizons at 1.5–4 m depth, across a 1700 km latitudinal (56 to 67∘ N) permafrost gradient in the Western Siberian Lowland (WSL). Mercury concentrations increase from south to north in all soil horizons, reflecting a higher stability of sequestered Hg with respect to re-emission. The RHgC in the WSL peat horizons decreases with depth, from 0.38 Gg Pg−1 in the active layer to 0.23 Gg Pg−1 in continuously frozen peat of the WSL. We estimate the Hg pool (0–1 m) in the permafrost-affected part of the WSL peatlands to be 9.3±2.7 Gg. We review and estimate pan-Arctic organic and mineral soil RHgC to be 0.19 and 0.63 Gg Pg−1, respectively, and use a soil carbon budget to revise the pan-Arctic permafrost soil Hg pool to be 72 Gg (39–91 Gg; interquartile range, IQR) in the upper 30 cm, 240 Gg (110–336 Gg) in the upper 1 m, and 597 Gg (384–750 Gg) in the upper 3 m. Using the same RHgC approach, we revise the upper 30 cm of the global soil Hg pool to contain 1086 Gg of Hg (852–1265 Gg, IQR), of which 7 % (72 Gg) resides in northern permafrost soils. Additional soil and river studies in eastern and northern Siberia are needed to lower the uncertainty on these estimates and assess the timing of Hg release to the atmosphere and rivers.

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Section: Sampling Procedure Analyses and Data Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

A revised pan-Arctic permafrost soil Hg pool based on Western Siberian peat Hg and carbon observations

et al. 2020

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“…More details are presented in Ref. [17]. The similar colors in map a and b refer to distinctive Hg concentration was downloaded from MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…China is one of the world's largest sources of Hg in the air [18][19][20]. The Hg distribution in surface soil is mainly from atmospheric Hg deposition [17]. The first soil Hg map in China was obtained from the National Soil Background Survey, which was initiated in the late 1980s and issued in 1994 ( Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury distribution in the surface soil of China is potentially driven by precipitation, vegetation cover and organic matter

Zhang

Yang

et al. 2020

Environ Sci Eur

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Background: Understanding the mechanism of Hg accumulation in soil, which is a net Hg sink, at a national scale is important for protecting the environment and improving food safety. The mercury (Hg) distribution in surface soil in China is quite uneven, with relatively high concentrations in southeastern China and low concentrations in northwestern China. The reason for this distribution is inconclusive, especially at the continental scale. In this study, the relative contributions of the key impact factors, including dry and wet deposition, soil organic matter (SOM) and solar radiation to soil Hg, were evaluated. Results: Wet and dry deposition associated with precipitation and vegetation cover and emissions influenced by SOM are key factors controlling Hg distribution in surface soil. In southeastern China, high levels of wet deposition associated with the South Asia monsoon and dry deposition, enhanced by vegetation canopies, together with low levels of emissions caused by highly vegetated surfaces and solar radiation, are responsible for the high Hg levels in soil (> 0.08 mg/kg). In northeastern China, moderate levels of wet Hg deposition, high levels of dry deposition via throughfall and litterfall, low emissions due to weak solar radiation and high levels of SOM are responsible for high Hg accumulation in soil. In northwestern China, low levels of wet deposition, together with high emissions levels, low vegetation cover (bare soil) and SOM and strong solar radiation, contributed to the low Hg level in the surface soil (< 0.03 mg/kg). Conclusions: We suggest that wet deposition derived from the Asian monsoon, dry deposition linked to vegetated surfaces and Hg emissions associated with vegetation cover, SOM and solar radiation play key roles in the soil Hg level in China. In other terrestrial environments worldwide, especially in regions with significantly high levels of wet deposition and high amounts of vegetation cover and soil SOM, high Hg concentrations may exist in the surface soil.

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“…China is one of the world's largest sources of Hg to air [17][18][19]. The Hg distribution in surface soil was mainly from Hg deposition of atmosphere [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury distribution in the surface soil of China is potentially driven by precipitation, vegetation cover and organic matter

Zhang

Lei

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Understanding the mechanism of Hg accumulation in soil, which is a net Hg sink, at a national scale is important to protecting the environment and improving food safety. The mercury (Hg) distribution in surface soil in China is quite uneven, with relatively high concentrations in southeastern China and low concentrations in northwestern China. The reason for this distribution is inconclusive, especially at the continental scale. In this study, the relative contributions of the key impact factors, including dry and wet deposition, soil organic matter (SOM) and solar radiation to soil Hg, were evaluated.Results: Wet and dry deposition associated with precipitation and vegetation cover and emissions influenced by SOM are key factors controlling Hg distribution in surface soil. In southeastern China, high levels of wet deposition associated with the South Asia monsoon and dry deposition, enhanced by vegetation canopies, together with low levels of emissions caused by highly vegetated surfaces and solar radiation, are responsible for the high Hg levels in soil (>0.08 mg/kg). In northeastern China, moderate levels of wet Hg deposition, high levels of dry deposition via throughfall and litterfall, low emissions due to weak solar radiation and high levels of SOM are responsible for high Hg accumulation in soil. In northwestern China, low levels of wet deposition, together with high emissions levels, low vegetation cover (bare soil) and SOM and strong solar radiation, contributed to the low Hg level in the surface soil (<0.03 mg/kg).Conclusions: We suggest that wet deposition derived from the Asian monsoon, dry deposition linked to vegetated surfaces and Hg emissions associated with vegetation cover, SOM and solar radiation play key roles in the soil Hg level in China. In other terrestrial environments worldwide, especially in regions with significantly high levels of wet deposition and high amounts of vegetation cover and soil SOM, high Hg concentrations may exist in surface soil.

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Climate and Vegetation As Primary Drivers for Global Mercury Storage in Surface Soil

Cited by 104 publications

References 89 publications

A revised pan-Arctic permafrost soil Hg pool based on Western Siberian peat Hg and carbon observations

A revised pan-Arctic permafrost soil Hg pool based on Western Siberian peat Hg and carbon observations

Mercury distribution in the surface soil of China is potentially driven by precipitation, vegetation cover and organic matter

Mercury distribution in the surface soil of China is potentially driven by precipitation, vegetation cover and organic matter

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