ATMOSPHERIC MERCURY AND THE GLOBAL MERCURY CYCLE

• Main Author: GRIFFIN, JOHN HOWARD
• Other Authors: Faculty of Maritime Studies
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 1980
• Subjects: Antarctic; Antarc*; British Antarctic Survey; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10026.2/2100

The importance of the atmosphere-ocean transport of trace elements is discussed with particular reference to mercury. Measurements of atmospheric mercury in the particulate and vapour phases were made at Ocean Station 'Lima' in the North Atlantic and at various locations on a cruise through the North and South Atlantic. The mean atmospheric particulate mercury concentration in the North Atlantic westerly airflow was found to be 0.041 ng/(SCM). The calculated flux to the ocean surface was 380 - 600 t/a. In the South Atlantic atmosphere the mean concentration was 0.008 ng/(SCM) with the flux calculated to be in the range 100 - 150 t/a. A mathematical model was devised as a steady state representation of the global mercury cycle before intervention by man, This simple model was extended into a kinetic system in which man's influences, expressed through increases in terrestrial degassing, fossil fuel combustion and mercury mining, were included as time dependent factors. The relationship between the field measurements and the theoretical model is discussed, Refinement of the model requires further work and suggestions of specific areas of future study are made. British Antarctic Survey University of Western Brittany