First investigation of an original device dedicated to the determination of gaseous mercury in interstitial air in snow

Dommergue, Aurélien; Ferrari, Christophe; Boutron, Claude F.

doi:10.1007/s00216-002-1643-x

Cited by 19 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…They found that GEM decreased with increasing depth (age of snow). Lindberg et al (2002), Ferrari et al (2002) and Dommergue et al (2003) have observed similar trends in the depth profiles of GEM in other regions including Barrow, Station Nord, Greenland, and Kuujjuarapik, Quebec. This GEM has the potential to be rapidly oxidized by halogen compounds within the snowpack.…”

Section: Mercury Oxidationsupporting

confidence: 61%

Determination of Mercury Content in a Shallow Firn Core from Greenland by Isotope Dilution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Mann

Long

Shuman

et al. 2005

Water Air Soil Pollut

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The total mercury content was determined in 6 cm sections of a shallow 7 m firn core and in surrounding surface snow from Summit, Greenland (elevation: 3238 m, 72.58 • N, 38.53 • W) collected in May 2001 by isotope dilution cold-vapor inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ID-CV-ICP-MS). The focus of this research was to evaluate the capability of the ID-CV-ICP-MS technique for measuring trace levels of Hg typical of polar snow and firn. Highly enriched 201 Hg isotopic spike is added to approximately 10 mL melted core and thoroughly mixed. The Hg 2+ in the sample is reduced on line with tin(II) chloride (SnCl 2 ) and the elemental Hg (Hg • ) vapor pre-concentrated onto gold gauze using a commercial amalgam system. The Hg is then thermally desorbed and introduced into a quadrupole ICP-MS. The blank-corrected Hg concentrations determined for all samples ranged from 0.25 to 1.74 ng/L (ppt) (average 0.59 ± 0.28 ng/L (1σ )) and fall within the range of those previously determined by Boutron et al. [Geophys. Res. Lett. 25, 1998, 3315-3318] (≤0.05-2.0 ng/L) for the Summit site. The average blank value was 0.19 ± 0.045 ng/L (n = 6, 1σ ) and the method detection limit was 0.14 ng/L. The Hg values specifically for the firn core range from 0.25 to 0.87 ng/L (average 0.51 ± 0.13 ng/L (1σ )) and show both values declining with time and larger variability in concentration in the top 1.8 m.

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Section: Mercury Oxidationsupporting

confidence: 61%

Determination of Mercury Content in a Shallow Firn Core from Greenland by Isotope Dilution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Mann

Long

Shuman

et al. 2005

Water Air Soil Pollut

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“…For example, inserting Teflon tubing into the snow pack (Steffen et al, 2003b), using Teflon probes (Dommergue et al, 2003c) or sniffers (St. Louis et al, 2005). Using these samplers at different depths within the snow pack and coupling the measurements with ancillary information (e.g.…”

Section: Snow Sampling and Analytical Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A synthesis of atmospheric mercury depletion event chemistry in the atmosphere and snow

Steffen

Douglas

Amyot³

et al. 2008

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

444

439

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Abstract. It was discovered in 1995 that, during the spring time, unexpectedly low concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) occurred in the Arctic air. This was surprising for a pollutant known to have a long residence time in the atmosphere; however conditions appeared to exist in the Arctic that promoted this depletion of mercury (Hg). This phenomenon is termed atmospheric mercury depletion events (AMDEs) and its discovery has revolutionized our understanding of the cycling of Hg in Polar Regions while stimulating a significant amount of research to understand its impact to this fragile ecosystem. Shortly after the discovery was made in Canada, AMDEs were confirmed to occur throughout the Arctic, sub-Artic and Antarctic coasts. It is now known that, through a series of photochemically initiated reactions involving halogens, GEM is converted to a Correspondence to: A. Steffen (alexandra.steffen@ec.gc.ca) more reactive species and is subsequently associated to particles in the air and/or deposited to the polar environment. AMDEs are a means by which Hg is transferred from the atmosphere to the environment that was previously unknown. In this article we review Hg research taken place in Polar Regions pertaining to AMDEs, the methods used to collect Hg in different environmental media, research results of the current understanding of AMDEs from field, laboratory and modeling work, how Hg cycles around the environment after AMDEs, gaps in our current knowledge and the future impacts that AMDEs may have on polar environments. The research presented has shown that while considerable improvements in methodology to measure Hg have been made but the main limitation remains knowing the speciation of Hg in the various media. The processes that drive AMDEs and how they occur are discussed. As well, the role that the snow pack and the sea ice play in the cycling of Hg is presented. It has been found that deposition of Hg from AMDEs occurs at marine coasts and not far inland and that a fraction of the Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. deposited Hg does not remain in the same form in the snow. Kinetic studies undertaken have demonstrated that bromine is the major oxidant depleting Hg in the atmosphere. Modeling results demonstrate that there is a significant deposition of Hg to Polar Regions as a result of AMDEs. Models have also shown that Hg is readily transported to the Arctic from source regions, at times during springtime when this environment is actively transforming Hg from the atmosphere to the snow and ice surfaces. The presence of significant amounts of methyl Hg in snow in the Arctic surrounding AMDEs is important because this species is the link between the environment and impacts to wildlife and humans. Further, much work on methylation and demethylation processes has occurred but these processes are not yet fully understood. Recent changes in the climate and sea ice cover in Polar Regions are likely to have strong effects on the cycling of Hg in this envir...

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“…The concentration of GEM in SIA was intensively investigated from 9 to 10 March, March 15 to 17 from, and from 22 to 24 March. We used GAMAS probes (Gaseous Mercury in Interstitial Air in Snow) at several depths to measure GEM concentrations between 20 and 120 cm depth below the snow surface [ Dommergue et al , 2003a]. This system has been used successfully in different Arctic sites, for example, at Station Nord, Greenland [ Ferrari et al , 2004a], Kuujjuarapik, Canada [ Dommergue et al , 2003c] and Ny‐Ålesund, Svalbard [ Ferrari et al , 2005].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diurnal production of gaseous mercury in the alpine snowpack before snowmelt

et al. 2007

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[1] In March 2005, an extensive mercury study was performed just before snowmelt at Col de Porte, an alpine site close to Grenoble, France. Total mercury concentration in the snowpack ranged from 80 ± 08 to 160 ± 15 ng l À1 , while reactive mercury was below detection limit (0.2 ng l À1 ). We observed simultaneously a production of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) in the top layer of the snowpack and an emission flux from the snow surface to the atmosphere. Both phenomena were well correlated with solar irradiation, indicating photo-induced reactions in the snow interstitial air (SIA). The mean daily flux of GEM from the snowpack was estimated at $9 ng m À2 d À1 . No depletion of GEM concentrations was observed in the SIA, suggesting no occurrence of oxidation processes. The presence of liquid water in the snowpack clearly enhanced GEM production in the SIA. Laboratory flux chamber measurements enabled us to confirm that GEM production from this alpine snowpack was first driven by solar radiation (especially UVA and UVB radiation), and then by liquid water in the snowpack. Finally, a large GEM emission from the snow surface occurred during snowmelt, and we report total mercury concentrations in meltwater of about 72 ng l

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First investigation of an original device dedicated to the determination of gaseous mercury in interstitial air in snow

Cited by 19 publications

References 27 publications

Determination of Mercury Content in a Shallow Firn Core from Greenland by Isotope Dilution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Determination of Mercury Content in a Shallow Firn Core from Greenland by Isotope Dilution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

A synthesis of atmospheric mercury depletion event chemistry in the atmosphere and snow

Diurnal production of gaseous mercury in the alpine snowpack before snowmelt

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