Description:

This research centers on the use of mercury isotope systematics as a new way of investigating natural and anthropogenic emissions of mercury into the atmosphere and of the atmospheric processes that affect transportation and deposition. Given the fact that isotope systematics of carbon and nitrogen constrain the cycling models of these elements in the environment, variations in mercury isotopic compositions hold the promise of being able to delimit sources, evaluate their contribution to the atmospheric burden, and to impose new constraints on models of mercury cycling. We now have the ability to make the high precision mercury isotope ratio measurements necessary to begin establishing the isotopic boundaries for mercury models.

URLs/Downloads:

2005 Progress Report

URL

Final Progress Report

2003 Progress Report

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT( ABSTRACT )

Start Date:10/02/2002

Completion Date:12/31/2006

Record ID: 57772

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Related Organizations:

Role :OWNER

Organization Name :FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

Mailing Address :211 Westcott Bldg

Citation :Tallahassee

State :FL

Zip Code :32306



Role :OWNER

Organization Name :NATIONAL HIGH MAGNETIC FIELD LABORATORY

Citation :Los Alamos

State :NM

Zip Code :87545

Project Information:

Approach :Atmospheric mercury contains components from far-field, regional, and local sources. We propose to determine the isotopic composition of atmospheric mercury (1) thought to be dominated by far-field sources (Olympic Peninsula WA, Barbados, New Zealand, (2) influenced by both far field and regional or local sources (Florida "Supersite"), and (3) influenced by known point sources (Southern Company's coal burning generators as well as waste incinerators). These studies will include both elemental and oxidized mercury, collected total gaseous mercury (TGM), and rain. These sites will be heavily instrumented for a variety of high-frequency measurements which can be used as a context for the interpretation of Hg-isotopes. Another important area of study will be the measurement of the isotopic ratios of Hg emissions from naturally enriched soils in collaboration with the flux chamber measurements of Dr. Mae Gustin of the University of Nevada Reno. Ore, soil, and plant will also be isotopically measured. We are joined in these efforts By Frontier Geosciences Inc. Collaborators include Southern Company, Florida DEP, Mae Gustin (U Nev-Reno), and Keith Hunter (U. Otago, NZ).

Cost :$827,147.00

Project IDs:

ID Code :R830603

Project type :EPA Grant