Field Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF) Spectrometry for Chemical Dust Source Characterization: Investigations of Natural and Mining-Related Dust Sources in Greenland (Kangerlussuaq Area)

Søndergaard, Jens; Jørgensen, Christian Juncher

doi:10.1007/s11270-021-05095-2

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The LOD determined as 3 SD on a series of blank samples (empty sample boats) was 0.2 ng Hg g −1 dw. In addition to the Hg analysis, samples were analyzed for 39 elements using an Olympus Vanta VMR pXRF instrument as described in ( 21 ). In this study, only As and Sb are reported.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Large mercury release from the Greenland Ice Sheet invalidated

Jørgensen,

Søndergaard,

Larsen

et al. 2024

Sci. Adv.

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The major input of mercury (Hg) to the Arctic is normally ascribed to long-range transport of anthropogenic Hg emissions. Recently, alarming concentrations of Hg in meltwater from the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) were reported with bedrock as the proposed source. Reported Hg concentrations were 100 to 1000 times higher than in known freshwater systems of Greenland, calling for independent validation of the extraordinary concentrations and conclusions. Here, we present measurements of Hg at 21 glacial outlets in West Greenland showing that extreme Hg concentrations cannot be reproduced. In contrast, we find that meltwater from below the GrIS is very low in Hg, has minor implications for the global Hg budget, and pose only a very limited risk for local communities and the natural environment of Greenland.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The CRMs NIST 2709a, 2710a, and 2711a were analyzed with the samples for QA/QC. The LODs for As and Sb using this technique are approximately 12 and 6 μg g −1 dw, respectively ( 21 ). The measured recovery in the three CRMs ( n = 2 to 3) ranged between 98 and 120% for As and 117 and 120% for Sb.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large mercury release from the Greenland Ice Sheet invalidated

Jørgensen,

Søndergaard,

Larsen

et al. 2024

Sci. Adv.

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“…The sediments are derived from glacial erosion, weathering and fluvial deposition and comprise quartz, plagioclase, K‐feldspar, amphibole, pyroxine and pyrite (Eisner et al, 1995; Hasholt et al, 2018). There are small, localised anthropogenic dust sources close to the head of the fjord, but most mining activities take place >80 km west of the study area and are unlikely to affect dust concentrations at Kangerlussuaq (Søndergaard & Jørgensen, 2021). The predominant wind direction associated with WMO dust events is from the east to northeast; however, dust events associated with southwesterly winds have also been reported (Bullard & Mockford, 2018).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diurnal and seasonal source‐proximal dust concentrations in complex terrain, West Greenland

Bullard

Prater

Baddock

et al. 2023

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Diurnal and seasonal cycles of aeolian activity are well‐constrained for low latitude dust source regions and provide valuable insights into relationships between dust emissions and environmental drivers. Such cycles have received little systematic attention in high latitude dust source areas (≥50°N and ≥40°S), and understanding them will aid the modelling of atmospheric dust over different timescales. This paper examines the timing and drivers of atmospheric dust concentration close to source at ice‐free locations c. 6 km and c. 37 km from the Greenland Ice Sheet margin. Dust concentration, and associated environmental drivers including wind speed and velocity, air temperature and humidity, was measured from April–October 2018 and April–August 2019. Measured dust concentrations were a similar order of magnitude to source‐proximal values measured globally and varied from 0 to ≥1000 μg m−3. Diurnal cycles in the environmental drivers of dust emission were similar to those observed in low latitudes, but unlike in the low latitudes, there was no clear diurnal pattern of dust concentration. Only 3 out of 17 recorded dust events showed a significant positive relationship between wind speed and dust concentration, and factors such as wind direction, humidity and sediment availability are the over‐riding controls on dust activity at the event and seasonal scales. Whereas 7 dust events are attributed to down‐valley katabatic winds, 10 events were associated with a westerly sea breeze blowing up‐valley towards the ice sheet and high atmospheric moisture content. If deposited on the ice, this dust will alter ice albedo both directly and indirectly, (e.g. through the promotion of algal blooms) affecting cryospheric melt rates. Our results demonstrate an intricate relationship between first‐order controls and dust concentration that raises challenges for modelling the uplift and subsequent dust transport from high latitude sources, especially the appropriateness of assumptions based on emissions behaviour at low latitudes.

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“…For ex situ pXRF analysis of organic materials (e.g., vegetation, animal tissues), drying often recommended and should be done as rapidly as possible to minimize the chemical and biological change after sampling and washing 3 . Drying and grinding can greatly improve pXRF data quality, with such processes and ex situ pXRF analysis possible in a field camp or laboratory 4,5 . Compared with other laboratory-based analytical methods such as inductively coupled plasma -optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), ex situ pXRF analysis is more efficient since it saves time required for sample digestion for wet chemistry analysis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3 Drying and grinding can greatly improve pXRF data quality, with such processes and ex situ pXRF analysis possible in a eld camp or laboratory. 4,5 Compared with other laboratory-based analytical methods such as inductively coupled plasmaoptical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), ex situ pXRF analysis is more efficient since it saves the time required for sample digestion for wet chemistry analysis. Given the advantages of using pXRF in compositional analysis, pXRF has been widely used in the elemental assessment of various matrices, such as soils, 1,6-10 rocks, 11,12 water, 13,14 coal, 15,16 dietary supplements, 17 external markers (e.g., TiO 2 and Cr 2 O 3 ), 17,18 alloys, 19,20 nails, 21,22 ceramics, 23,24 compost, 25,26 fossils, 27 marine litter, 28 and vegetation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%