Differential absorption lidar mapping of atmospheric atomic mercury in Italian geothermal fields

Edner, Hans; Ragnarson, P; Svanberg, Sune; Wallinder, E; Liso, A. De; Ferrara, R.; Maserti, B. E.

doi:10.1029/91jd03108

Cited by 29 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…These data are consistent with the ranges of 2–15 ng/m 3 and 20–100 ng/m 3 in atmospheric Hg concentrations reported for the same areas by Ferrara et al However, it should be noted that almost all Hg in the air of Mt. Amiata is Hg 0 from soil degassing, while near waste incinerators and other anthropogenic Hg sources the metal accumulation in lichens and other exposed organisms is mainly due to wet and dry atmospheric deposition of particulate and especially ionic Hg forms …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Estimating Atmospheric Mercury Concentrations with Lichens

Vannini

Nicolardi

Bargagli

et al. 2014

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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The uptake kinetics of elemental gaseous Hg (Hg(0)) in three species of epiphytic lichens (Pseudevernia furfuracea, Evernia prunastri, and Xanthoria parietina) were investigated under four different Hg concentrations (10, 15, 30, and 45 μg/m(3)) and three different temperatures (10, 20, and 30 °C) with the aim of evaluating the lichen efficiency for Hg(0) accumulation and their potential use in the estimate of atmospheric concentrations of this metal in the field. The results showed that under our experimental conditions the lichens accumulated Hg according to exposure time and that the metal is not released back to the atmosphere after Hg(0) was removed from the air (clearance). Pseudevernia furfuracea showed the highest Hg accumulation capacity and Evernia prunastri showed the lowest, but in these species the metal uptake kinetics was affected by temperature. Xanthoria parietina showed an intermediate metal accumulation capacity and a Hg accumulation rate independent of temperature (in the range 10-30 °C). The use of first-order kinetics equations for Hg uptake in X. parietina and available field data on Hg bioaccumulation in this species allowed reliable estimates of atmospheric Hg concentrations in the environment.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Estimating Atmospheric Mercury Concentrations with Lichens

Vannini

Nicolardi

Bargagli

et al. 2014

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…We have previously measured mercury emissions at chlor-alkali plants and in geothermal fields but used a dye-laser transmitter. 23,24 Figure 6 shows the result of a vertical lidar scan through the mercury emission plume downwind from an Italian chlor-alkali plant, as obtained with the new lidar system. In total, 4000 laser shots fired during approximately 4 min were used to produce the data.…”

Section: Utraviolet Dual-wavelength Differential Absorption Lidarmentioning

confidence: 99%

Versatile mobile lidar system for environmental monitoring

2003

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“…Remote sensing of atomic mercury has been accomplished using the differential absorption lidar (light detection and ranging) method over ranges up to 1 km, related to industrial emissions (see, e.g. 4,5 ) and to geothermal resources and mines 1,6,7 . There is a potential to discover valuable mineral resources by mercury vapor detection, since mercury is frequently coexisting with certain ores (see, e.g.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury as a Geophysical Tracer Gas - Emissions from the Emperor Qin Tomb in Xi´an Studied by Laser Radar

Zhao

Zhang

Duan

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Mercury is, because of its high vapor pressure and its prevalence in the atmosphere as atoms, an interesting geophysical tracer gas, also with potential archaeological applications. According to historical records dating back 2200 years, the mausoleum chamber of the "Terracotta Army Emperor" Qin in Xi´an, China, contains large amounts of liquid mercury, considered as an elixir of life at the time. We here report on measurements of the atmospheric contents of atomic mercury above the tomb mound performed with a mobile differential absorption lidar (light detection and ranging) system. Our measurements, which were performed from three different locations around the mound, indeed indicate elevated atmospheric mercury levels, with localizations, which correlate with previous in situ soil sampling results. Concentrations up to 27 ng/m 3 were observed, significantly higher than the typical general pollutant level in the area which was found to be around 5-10 ng/m 3. An out-flux of about 5×10 −8 kg/s was estimated. Highly volatile mercury may be escaping through cracks, which developed in the structure over time, and our investigation supports ancient chronicle records on the tomb, which is believed never to have been opened/looted. Our findings also have bearings on the proposed use of mercury as a tracer gas for valuable ores and geothermal resource exploration, and also bring problematics around reliable nuclear waste long-term underground storage to mind.

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Differential absorption lidar mapping of atmospheric atomic mercury in Italian geothermal fields

Cited by 29 publications

References 24 publications

Estimating Atmospheric Mercury Concentrations with Lichens

Estimating Atmospheric Mercury Concentrations with Lichens

Versatile mobile lidar system for environmental monitoring

Mercury as a Geophysical Tracer Gas - Emissions from the Emperor Qin Tomb in Xi´an Studied by Laser Radar

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