EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Gustin et al. 1999
Gustin, M.S., Lindberg, S., Marsik, F., Casimir, A., Ebinghaus, R., Edwards, G., Hubble-Fitzgerald, C., Kemp, R., Kock, H., Leonard, T., London, J., Majewski, M., Montecinos, C., Owens, J., Pilote, M., Poissant, L., Rasmussen, P., Schaedlich, F., Schneeberger, D., Schroeder, W., Sommar, J., Turner, R., Vette, A., Wallschlaeger, D., Xiao, Z. and Zhang, H. (1999). Nevada STORMS project: Measurement of mercury emissions from naturally enriched surfaces. Journal of Geophysical Research 104: doi: 10.1029/1999JD900351. issn: 0148-0227.

Diffuse anthropogenic and naturally mercury-enriched areas represent long-lived sources of elemental mercury to the atmosphere. The Nevada Study and Tests of the Release of Mercury From Soils (STORMS) project focused on the measurement of mercury emissions from a naturally enriched area. During the project, concurrent measurements of mercury fluxes from naturally mercury-enriched substrate were made September 1--4, 1997, using four micrometeorological methods and seven field flux chambers. Ambient air mercury concentrations ranged from 2 to nearly 200 ng m-3 indicating that the field site is a source of atmospheric mercury. The mean daytime mercury fluxes, during conditions of no precipitation, measured with field chambers were 50 to 360 ng m-2 h-1, and with the micrometeorological methods were 230 to 600 ng m-2 h-1. This wide range in mercury emission rates reflects differences in method experimental designs and local source strengths. Mercury fluxes measured by many field chambers were significantly different (p<0.05) but linearly correlated. This indicates that field chambers responded similarly to environmental conditions, but differences in experimental design and site heterogeneity had a significant influence on the magnitude of mercury fluxes. Data developed during the field study demonstrated that field flux chambers are ideal for assessment of the physicochemical processes driving mercury flux and development of an understanding of the magnitude of the influence of individual factors on flux. In general, mean mercury fluxes measured with micrometeorological methods during daytime periods were nearly 3 times higher than mean fluxes measured with field flux chambers. Micrometeorological methods allow for derivation of a representative mercury flux occurring from an unconstrained system and provide an assessment of the actual magnitude and variability of fluxes occurring from an area. ¿ 1999 American Geophysical Union

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Biosphere/atmosphere interactions, Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Troposphere—composition and chemistry, Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Instruments and techniques, Global Change, Atmosphere (0315, 0325), Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics, Radiative processes, Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics, Stratosphere/troposphere interactions
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit