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SOUTH FLORIDA MERCURY MONITORING AND MODELING PILOT STUDY
Citation:
Shrock, J., J. Bowser, W. Mayhew, AND R. K. STEVENS. SOUTH FLORIDA MERCURY MONITORING AND MODELING PILOT STUDY. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-00/102 (NTIS PB2002-100515), 2001.
Impact/Purpose:
The overall research objective of this task is to improve our understanding of the emission, transport, transformation, and deposition of atmospheric mercury. Information garnered from this research is used to improve and evaluate EPA deterministic models that are used to investigate the (i) relative impact to local, regional, and global sources to atmospheric mercury deposition, and (ii) benefits of various emission reduction scenarios.
Specifically, individual research project objectives are listed below:
(1) Evaluate the ability of speciated mercury (Hg0, Hg2+, HgP) measurements to aid source apportionment models in identifying anthropogenic source contributions to atmospheric mercury deposition
(2) Elucidate the contribution of coal combustion sources to observed mercury wet deposition in the Ohio River Valley
(3) Obtain atmospheric profiles (200 - 12,000 ft) of speciated ambient mercury off the south Florida Coast
- Evaluate the role of long range transport of RGM to Florida in the marine free troposphere.
- Identify any vertical mercury gradients that might indicate the presence of rapid mercury chemistry in air or in cloud water.
(4) Conduct research at Mauna Loa Observatory to elucidate elemental mercury oxidation in the remote marine free troposphere.
(5) Conduct laboratory kinetics experiments to determine the rate constants of elemental mercury oxidation to gaseous inorganic divalent mercury species from atmospheric halide species (e.g. BrO, ClO).
Description:
In 1995, the South Florida Atmospheric Mercury Monitoring Study was established to investigate several likely sources of Hg, as well as transport and deposition mechanisms. Field operations began on August 10, 1995, and ran continuously through September 6, 1995. Source sampling was conducted at three facilities suspected of emitting Hg. The source sampling component investigated the chemical form and magnitude of Hg emissions from a resource recovery incinerator, a medical waste incinerator, and a coal-fired Portland cement kiln. In-stack measurements also included PM2.5, elemental and organic carbon, trace elements, and trace gases. Field measurements were conducted at a network of five surface sites. Four surface sites were located in Dade County and one in Broward County. The monitor locations were chosen to represent a marine background site (Adams Key), three urban sites located near mercury emitting sources (Davie, Miami Springs and Dade County), and one site located west of the urban sites adjacent to the Everglades (Thompson Park). Day and night air samples were collected for PM2.5, elemental and organic carbon, trace elements, and trace gases. Extensive meteorological data were collected. This report focuses largely on data completeness and the spatial-temporal variability of ambient concentration data. Although the data presented are only a portion of that collected under the overall study, it constitutes a valuable source of information on the chemical composition of the South Florida atmosphere with respect to Hg and other related pollutants.
The information in this document has been funded wholly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Contract No. 68-D2-0134 to Environmental Science & Engineering, Inc. (ESE). It has been subjected to the Agency's review, and it has been approved for publication as an EPA document. Any mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.