Where Does the Mercury in Atmospheric Mercury Deposition Come From?

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Where Does the Mercury in AtmosphericMercury
Deposition Come From?
Mark Cohen, Winston Luke, Paul Kelley, Richard
Artz NOAA Air Resources Laboratory Silver Spring,
Maryland http//www.arl.noaa.gov/mercury.php
Gulf of Mexico Alliance Mercury Workshop
December 2-4, 2008, Gulfport, Mississippi
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Acknowledgements

• Jake Walker, Mark Woodrey, Glen Ruple (Grand Bay
  National Estuarine Research Reserve)
• Profs Yerramilli Anjaneyulu, Jerzy Lesczcynski,
  Hari Dasari, many colleagues (Jackson State
  Univ.)
• Durwin Carter (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service --
  Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge)
• Steve Brooks (NOAA ATDD and Canann Valley
  Institute)
• Roland Draxler, Glenn Rolph, Barbara Stunder,
  Steve Fine (NOAA Air Resources Laboratory)
• David Schmeltz, Tim Sharac, Rick Haeuber, Sam
  Napolitano (US EPA Clean Air Markets Division)
• Gary Matlock, Russell Callender, Jawed Hameedi
  (NOAA NOS Natl Centers for Coastal Ocean
  Science)

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Different forms of mercury in the atmosphere

• Elemental Mercury -- Hg(0)
• most of total Hg in atmosphere
• not very water soluble
• doesnt easily dry or wet deposit
• upward evasion vs. deposition
• atmos. lifetime approx 0.5-1 yr
• globally distributed

Atmospheric methyl-mercury?

• Particulate Mercury -- Hg(p)
• a few percent of total atmos Hg
• not pure particles of mercury
• Hg compounds in/on atmos particles
• species largely unknown (HgO?)
• atmos. lifetime approx 1 2 weeks
• local and regional effects
• bioavailability?

• Reactive Gaseous Mercury -- RGM
• a few percent of total atmos Hg
• oxidized Hg (HgCl2, others)
• operationally defined
• very water soluble and sticky
• atmos. lifetime lt 1 week
• local and regional effects
• bioavailable

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Reactive Gaseous Mercury (RGM) Emissions to the
Air
2002 U.S. data from USEPA National Emissions
Inventory (NEI) 1999 Mexican data from
inventory prepared by Acosta y Asociados for the
Commission for Environmental Cooperation
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Elemental Mercury -- Hg(0) -- Emissions to the Air
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Why are emissions speciation data - and potential
plume transformations -- critical?
Logarithmic
NOTE distance results averaged over all
directions Some directions will have higher
fluxes, some will have lower
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RGM Emissions and Atmospheric Hg Measurement Sites
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Mississippi
Alabama
Barry
MS 22
paper manuf
paper manuf
AL02
Pascagoula MSW incin
Mobile
Molino
Crist
Victor J. Daniel
Holcim Cement
Pace
OLF
haz waste incin
Ellyson
AL24
Weeks Bay
Jack Watson
Mobile Bay
Pascagoula
NOAA Grand Bay NERR Hg site
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Large, time-varying spatial gradients in
deposition source-receptor relationships
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Recent RGM concentrations measured at the Grand
Bay NERR
Then down for 2 months due to hurricanes
.
.
2007
2008
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Atmospheric Mercury Modeling for the Gulf of
Mexico region examples of recent, current, and
planned work
Model Group(s) PIs Notes
TEAM-CTM AER (Atmos. Environ. Research, Inc.) EPRI Christian Seigneur Leonard Levin ongoing, global, nested grid
CMAQ-Hg EPA Russ Bullock CAMR, regional boundary
CMAQ-Hg Jackson State University Yerramilli Anjaneyulu meteorological and Hg modeling effort starting
CMAQ-Hg Florida DEP Univ of Mich, others Jerry Keeler modeling to be carried out for Florida TMDL
REMSAD EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans Watersheds ICF Dwight Atkinson, Ruth Chemerys recent report regional boundary
Geos-Chem Harvard University Daniel Jacob ongoing, global, coarse grid
HYSPLIT-Hg NOAA Air Resources Laboratory Mark Cohen Roland Draxler ongoing, regional soon global
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Atmospheric Mercury Modeling for the Gulf of
Mexico region examples of recent, current, and
planned work
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Atmospheric Mercury Modeling for the Gulf of
Mexico region examples of recent, current, and
planned work
Model Group(s) PIs Notes
TEAM-CTM AER (Atmos. Environ. Research, Inc.) EPRI Christian Seigneur Leonard Levin ongoing, global, nested grid
CMAQ-Hg EPA Russ Bullock CAMR, regional boundary
CMAQ-Hg Jackson State University Yerramilli Anjaneyulu meteorological and Hg modeling effort starting
CMAQ-Hg Florida DEP Univ of Mich, others Jerry Keeler modeling to be carried out for Florida TMDL
REMSAD EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans Watersheds ICF Dwight Atkinson, Ruth Chemerys recent report regional boundary
Geos-Chem Harvard University Daniel Jacob ongoing, global, coarse grid
HYSPLIT-Hg NOAA Air Resources Laboratory Mark Cohen Roland Draxler ongoing, regional soon global
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Atmospheric Mercury Modeling for the Gulf of
Mexico region examples of recent, current, and
planned work
Model Group(s) PIs Notes
TEAM-CTM AER (Atmos. Environ. Research, Inc.) EPRI Christian Seigneur Leonard Levin ongoing, global, nested grid
CMAQ-Hg EPA Russ Bullock CAMR, regional boundary
CMAQ-Hg Jackson State University Yerramilli Anjaneyulu meteorological and Hg modeling effort starting
CMAQ-Hg Florida DEP Univ of Mich, others Jerry Keeler modeling to be carried out for Florida TMDL
REMSAD EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans Watersheds ICF Dwight Atkinson, Ruth Chemerys recent report regional boundary
Geos-Chem Harvard University Daniel Jacob ongoing, global, coarse grid
HYSPLIT-Hg NOAA Air Resources Laboratory Mark Cohen Roland Draxler ongoing, regional soon global
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Atmospheric Mercury Modeling for the Gulf of
Mexico region examples of recent, current, and
planned work
Model Group(s) PIs Notes
TEAM-CTM AER (Atmos. Environ. Research, Inc.) EPRI Christian Seigneur Leonard Levin ongoing, global, nested grid
CMAQ-Hg EPA Russ Bullock CAMR, regional boundary
CMAQ-Hg Jackson State University Yerramilli Anjaneyulu meteorological and Hg modeling effort starting
CMAQ-Hg Florida DEP Univ of Mich, others Jerry Keeler modeling to be carried out for Florida TMDL
REMSAD EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans Watersheds ICF Dwight Atkinson, Ruth Chemerys recent report regional boundary
Geos-Chem Harvard University Daniel Jacob ongoing, global, coarse grid
HYSPLIT-Hg NOAA Air Resources Laboratory Mark Cohen Roland Draxler ongoing, regional soon global
20
Atmospheric Mercury Modeling for the Gulf of
Mexico region examples of recent, current, and
planned work
Model Group(s) PIs Notes
TEAM-CTM AER (Atmos. Environ. Research, Inc.) EPRI Christian Seigneur Leonard Levin ongoing, global, nested grid
CMAQ-Hg EPA Russ Bullock CAMR, regional boundary
CMAQ-Hg Jackson State University Yerramilli Anjaneyulu meteorological and Hg modeling effort starting
CMAQ-Hg Florida DEP Univ of Mich, others Jerry Keeler modeling to be carried out for Florida TMDL
REMSAD EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans Watersheds ICF Dwight Atkinson, Ruth Chemerys recent report regional boundary
Geos-Chem Harvard University Daniel Jacob ongoing, global, coarse grid
HYSPLIT-Hg NOAA Air Resources Laboratory Mark Cohen Roland Draxler ongoing, regional soon global
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• 1996 meteorology (NGM)
• 1999 U.S. emissions (EPA NEI)
• 2000 Canadian emissions (Envr. Canada)
• no sources other than U.S. Can. anthropogenic
  emissions
• total modeled deposition to Mobile Bay 3.5 g
  Hg/km2-year

Largest Modeled Individual Sources Contributing
Mercury Deposition Directly to Mobile Bay (large
regional view)
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• 1996 meteorology (NGM)
• 1999 U.S. emissions (EPA NEI)
• 2000 Canadian emissions (Envr. Canada)
• no sources other than U.S. Can. anthropogenic
  emissions
• total modeled deposition to Mobile Bay 3.5 g
  Hg/km2-year

Largest Modeled Individual Sources Contributing
Mercury Deposition Directly to Mobile Bay (local
view)
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Top 25 Modeled Contributors to 1999 Hg Deposition
Directly to Mobile Bay, considering anthropogenic
direct emission sources in the United States and
Canada
Cumulative Fraction of Modeled Deposition
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Atmospheric Mercury Modeling for the Gulf of
Mexico region examples of recent, current, and
planned work
Model Group(s) PIs Notes
TEAM-CTM AER (Atmos. Environ. Research, Inc.) EPRI Christian Seigneur Leonard Levin ongoing, global, nested grid
CMAQ-Hg EPA Russ Bullock CAMR, regional boundary
CMAQ-Hg Jackson State University Yerramilli Anjaneyulu meteorological and Hg modeling effort starting
CMAQ-Hg Florida DEP Univ of Mich, others Jerry Keeler modeling to be carried out for Florida TMDL
REMSAD EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans Watersheds ICF Dwight Atkinson, Ruth Chemerys recent report regional boundary
Geos-Chem Harvard University Daniel Jacob ongoing, global, coarse grid
HYSPLIT-Hg NOAA Air Resources Laboratory Mark Cohen Roland Draxler ongoing, regional soon global

• All models have evolving strengths and
  weaknesses
• Others? (this may not be a complete list)
• Collaboration? (e.g., emissions inventories,
  model intercomparisons)

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What Do We Need to Know Regarding Atmospheric
Mercury?
Type of Information Monitoring Modeling
Atmospheric deposition Can give us exact answers at a few locations Can give us approximate answers throughout the domain
Source-attribution for deposition For monitoring site only -- using receptor-based techniques enhanced monitoring Can give us approx. information with suitably designed methodology
Deposition for historical periods -- Possible if historical emissions inventories can be estimated
Deposition for alternative future scenarios -- Easy as long as emissions scenarios are specified
consistent with the needs of subsequent
analyses (e.g., ecosystem modeling) with respect
to spatial, temporal, and species resolution
(e.g., Hg(0) vs. RGM vs. Hg(p))
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Can we learn what is needed about atmospheric
mercury deposition by making atmospheric
measurements alone?
NO
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More certain info at a few locations (monitoring)
vs. less certain info region-wide (modeling)
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Conclusion
Since we need to know how much atmospheric Hg
deposition there is and where it comes from, we
need both models and measurements
Two Suggestions
1. The Gulf of Mexico Alliance Action Plan should
identify the role of models explicitly
2. A critical need one deserving its own high
priority action item is for collaboration
between stakeholders to improve the mercury air
emissions inventory in the region
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Thanks!
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Extra Slides
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Atmospheric Mercury Modeling for the Gulf of
Mexico region examples of recent, current, and
planned work
Model Group(s) PIs Notes
TEAM-CTM AER (Atmos. Environ. Research, Inc.) EPRI Christian Seigneur Leonard Levin ongoing, global, nested grid
CMAQ-Hg EPA Russ Bullock CAMR, regional boundary
CMAQ-Hg Jackson State University Yerramilli Anjaneyulu meteorological and Hg modeling effort starting
CMAQ-Hg Florida DEP Univ of Mich, others Jerry Keeler modeling to be carried out for Florida TMDL
REMSAD EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans Watersheds ICF Dwight Atkinson, Ruth Chemerys recent report regional boundary
Geos-Chem Harvard University Daniel Jacob ongoing, global, coarse grid
HYSPLIT-Hg NOAA Air Resources Laboratory Mark Cohen Roland Draxler ongoing, regional soon global

• Others?
• Collaboration? (e.g., emissions inventories,
  model intercomparisons)

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deposition (ug/m2)
Beltsville monitoring site
100 - 1000 10 100 1 - 10 0.1 1
Washington D.C.
Model-predicted hourly mercury deposition (wet
dry) in the vicinity of one example Hg source for
a 3-day period in July 2007
one Hg emissions source
hourly deposition converted to annual
equivalent
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deposition (ug/m2)
Beltsville monitoring site
100 - 1000 10 100 1 - 10 0.1 1
Washington D.C.
Model-predicted hourly mercury deposition (wet
dry) in the vicinity of one example Hg source for
a 3-day period in July 2007
one Hg emissions source
hourly deposition converted to annual
equivalent
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Large, time-varying spatial gradients in
deposition source-receptor relationships
deposition (ug/m2)
Beltsville monitoring site
100 - 1000 10 100 1 - 10 0.1 1
Washington D.C.
Model-predicted hourly mercury deposition (wet
dry) in the vicinity of one example Hg source for
a 3-day period in July 2007
one Hg emissions source
hourly deposition converted to annual
equivalent
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Earlier Modeling Results For Mobile Bay
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• 1996 meteorology (NGM)
• 1999 U.S. emissions (EPA NEI)
• 2000 Canadian emissions (Envr. Canada)
• no sources other than U.S. Can. anthropogenic
  emissions
• total modeled deposition to Mobile Bay 3.5 g
  Hg/km2-year

Largest Modeled Individual Sources Contributing
Mercury Deposition Directly to Mobile Bay
(national view)
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• 1996 meteorology (NGM)
• 1999 U.S. emissions (EPA NEI)
• 2000 Canadian emissions (Envr. Canada)
• no sources other than U.S. Can. anthropogenic
  emissions
• total modeled deposition to Mobile Bay 3.5 g
  Hg/km2-year

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Other Model Results
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