Scaling of atmospheric mercury emissions from three naturally enriched areas: Flowery Peak, Nevada; Peavine Peak, Nevada; and Long Valley Caldera, California

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 290; no. 1; pp. 91 - 104
• Main Authors: Engle, Mark A., Gustin, Mae Sexauer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier B.V 06.05.2002; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Air–surface exchange; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; California; Dispersed sources and other; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; Exact sciences and technology; Geographic information system; Geographic Information Systems; Geological Phenomena; Geology; Light; Mercury; Mercury - analysis; Mercury Emissions; Mine; Models, Theoretical; Nevada; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Pollution, environment geology; Reference Values; Temperature; California; United States; North America; America; Nevada; USA, California, Long Valley Caldera; USA, Nevada; USA, Nevada, Peavine Peak; USA, California; USA, Nevada, Flowery Peak; Mercury Emissions; Air–surface exchange; Geographic information system; Mercury; Mine; Natural origin pollution; Hydrothermal alteration; Emission content; Pollutant emission; Heavy metal; Medium effect; Pollution source; Geogenic factor; Air pollution; Air ground interface; Geochemical cycle; Geothermy
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/S0048-9697(01)01068-3

With the development of analytical capabilities that allow for almost real time measurement of mercury concentrations in air, the fluxes of mercury between environment compartments is being more carefully scrutinized. Recent advances have demonstrated that the mercury cycle is much more complicated than previously realized. This study quantified the mercury emissions from three areas with low levels of mercury enrichment associated with precious and base metal mineralization and recent volcanic/geothermal activity. Area emissions were calculated using Geographic Information System technology, and in situ derived mercury fluxes and those parameters found to statistically be dominant in controlling emissions. The most important controls on emission strengths were found to be geologic while environmental parameters such as light and temperature were found to drive the diel pattern typically observed for mercury emissions. Calculated area averaged emissions were 18.5, 10.0, and 13.6 ng/m 2 h for the Flowery Peak, NV, Peavine Peak, NV, and Long Valley Caldera, CA areas, respectively. These emissions are an order of magnitude higher than values applied in global models for natural sources. This study, along with other recent work, demonstrates that natural sources may contribute more mercury than previously recognized to the atmospheric mercury pool.