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| Titel |
Worldwide trend of atmospheric mercury since 1995 |
| VerfasserIn |
F. Slemr, E.-G. Brunke, R. Ebinghaus, J. Kuss |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
1680-7316
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ; 11, no. 10 ; Nr. 11, no. 10 (2011-05-23), S.4779-4787 |
| Datensatznummer |
250009756
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/acp-11-4779-2011.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| Concern about the adverse effects of mercury on human health and ecosystems
has led to tightening emission controls since the mid 1980s. But the
resulting mercury emissions reductions in many parts of the world are
believed to be offset or even surpassed by the increasing emissions in
rapidly industrializing countries. Consequently, concentrations of
atmospheric mercury are expected to remain roughly constant. Here we show
that the worldwide atmospheric mercury concentrations have decreased by
about 20 to 38 % since 1996 as indicated by long-term monitoring at
stations in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres combined with intermittent
measurements of latitudinal distribution over the Atlantic Ocean. The total
reduction of the atmospheric mercury burden of this magnitude within 14
years is unusually large among most atmospheric trace gases and is at odds
with the current mercury emission inventories with nearly constant
anthropogenic emissions over this period. This suggests a major shift in the
biogeochemical cycle of mercury including oceans and soil reservoirs.
Decreasing reemissions from the legacy of historical mercury emissions are
the most likely explanation for this decline since the hypothesis of an
accelerated oxidation rate of elemental mercury in the atmosphere is not
supported by the observed trends of other trace gases. Acidification of
oceans, climate change, excess nutrient input and pollution may also
contribute by their impact on the biogeochemistry of ocean and soils.
Consequently, models of the atmospheric mercury cycle have to include soil
and ocean mercury pools and their dynamics to be able to make projections of
future trends. |
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