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AGU: Global Biogeochemical Cycles

 

Keywords

  • air-sea exchange
  • mercury
  • ocean

Index Terms

  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Geochemical cycles
  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Constituent sources and sinks
  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Air/sea constituent fluxes
Abstract
Cited By (7)
 

Abstract

Air-sea exchange in the global mercury cycle

Sarah A. Strode

Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

Lyatt Jaeglé

Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

Noelle E. Selin

Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Daniel J. Jacob

Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Rokjin J. Park

Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Robert M. Yantosca

Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Robert P. Mason

Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, Connecticut, USA

Franz Slemr

Air Chemistry Division, Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany

We present results from a new global atmospheric mercury model coupled with a mixed layer slab ocean. The ocean model describes the interactions of the mixed layer with the atmosphere and deep ocean, as well as conversion between elemental, divalent, and nonreactive mercury species. Our global mean aqueous concentrations of 0.07 pM elemental, 0.80 pM reactive, and 1.51 pM total mercury agree with observations. The ocean provides a 14.1 Mmol yr−1 source of mercury to the atmosphere, at the upper end of previous estimates. Re-emission of previously deposited mercury constitutes 89% of this flux. Ocean emissions are largest in the tropics and downwind of industrial regions. Midlatitude ocean emissions display a large seasonal cycle induced by biological productivity. Oceans contribute 54% (36%) of surface atmospheric mercury in the Southern (Northern) Hemisphere. We find a large net loss of mercury to the deep ocean (8.7 Mmol yr−1), implying a ∼0.7%/year increase in deep ocean concentrations.

Received 21 May 2006; accepted 17 October 2006; published 17 March 2007.

Citation: Strode, S. A., L. Jaeglé, N. E. Selin, D. J. Jacob, R. J. Park, R. M. Yantosca, R. P. Mason, and F. Slemr (2007), Air-sea exchange in the global mercury cycle, Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 21, GB1017, doi:10.1029/2006GB002766.

Cited By

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