Evaluating atmospheric mercury (Hg) uptake by vegetation in a chemistry-transport model
Aryeh Feinberg, Thandolwethu Z. Dlamini, Martin Jiskra, Viral Shah, Noelle E. Selin
Abstract
land sink, yet continued deforestation and climate change threatens the rainforest's stability and thus its role as an important Hg sink. In an illustrative worst-case scenario where the Amazon is completely converted to savannah, GEOS-Chem predicts that an additional 283 Mg Hg per year would deposit to the ocean, where it can bioaccumulate in the marine food chain. Biosphere-atmosphere interactions thus play a crucial role in global Hg cycling and should be considered in assessments of future Hg pollution.
Topics & Concepts
Atmospheric sciencesThroughfallSink (geography)Plant litterEnvironmental scienceAmazon rainforestFlux (metallurgy)Mercury (programming language)SunriseAtmospheric chemistryNorthern HemisphereEnvironmental chemistryEcosystemOzoneChemistrySoil waterEcologyGeologyGeographySoil scienceBiologyComputer scienceOrganic chemistryCartographyProgramming languageMercury impact and mitigation studiesToxic Organic Pollutants ImpactHeavy metals in environment