FATE OF MERCURY IN THE ARCTIC Michael Evan ... - COGCI

4, sunlight and 5, sub-zero temperatures. Condition 2 implies poor operational characteristics for
micrometeorological systems. We needed to compromise the sampling frequency to achieve
laminar flow. We examined other RGM accumulators: three methods aside from annular denuders
have been developed for measurement of RGM: refluxing mist chambers, ion-exchange membranes
behind particulate filters and potassium chloride, KCl, coated tubular denuders (Landis et al., 2002
and citations therein). However, only the annular denuder method by Landis et al., had the
necessary characteristics of being able to operate under arctic conditions, with the flow dynamics
essential for the REA flux measurements in this work.
4. Conclusions
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This work reports the first measurement series of RGM flux in the Arctic providing data for
transport and depositional model parameterization. It shows that RGM is quickly deposited to the
snow surface, however, there were also emissions, implying that there are processes in the snow
surface capable of releasing RGM, or re-emitting the deposited RGM. The flux system takes
advantage of already developed methods, to accumulate the RGM (Landis et al., 2002) and a
micrometeorological method, REA, that has successfully been employed to measure gaseous
elemental mercury flux (Cobos et al., 2002).
Acknowledgements
This work was carried out under basic NERI funding, as well as funding from the Danish
Environmental Protection Agency, DANCEA program. MEG gratefully acknowledges the
Copenhagen Global Change Initiative graduate research fellowship from the Danish Research
Agency and NERI. He would like to thank NOAA, ATDD and ORNL, ESD for allowing him to be
a visiting student and supporting his research, and to NOAA CMDL (Dan Endres), for support
during the campaign.