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Yue F, Angot H, Blomquist B, Schmale J, Hoppe CJM, Lei R, Shupe MD, Zhan L, Ren J, Liu H, Beck I, Howard D, Jokinen T, Laurila T, Quéléver L, Boyer M, Petäjä T, Archer S, Bariteau L, Helmig D, Hueber J, Jacobi HW, Posman K, Xie Z. The Marginal Ice Zone as a dominant source region of atmospheric mercury during central Arctic summertime. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4887. [PMID: 37580358 PMCID: PMC10425351 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40660-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) concentrations in the Arctic exhibit a clear summertime maximum, while the origin of this peak is still a matter of debate in the community. Based on summertime observations during the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition and a modeling approach, we further investigate the sources of atmospheric Hg in the central Arctic. Simulations with a generalized additive model (GAM) show that long-range transport of anthropogenic and terrestrial Hg from lower latitudes is a minor contribution (~2%), and more than 50% of the explained GEM variability is caused by oceanic evasion. A potential source contribution function (PSCF) analysis further shows that oceanic evasion is not significant throughout the ice-covered central Arctic Ocean but mainly occurs in the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) due to the specific environmental conditions in that region. Our results suggest that this regional process could be the leading contributor to the observed summertime GEM maximum. In the context of rapid Arctic warming and the observed increase in width of the MIZ, oceanic Hg evasion may become more significant and strengthen the role of the central Arctic Ocean as a summertime source of atmospheric Hg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fange Yue
- Institute of Polar Environment & Anhui Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Hélène Angot
- Extreme Environments Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Valais Wallis, Sion, Switzerland.
- Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, 38000, Grenoble, France.
| | - Byron Blomquist
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- NOAA, Physical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Julia Schmale
- Extreme Environments Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Valais Wallis, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Clara J M Hoppe
- Alfred Wegener Institut-Helmholtzzentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Ruibo Lei
- Key Laboratory for Polar Science of the MNR, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai, China
| | - Matthew D Shupe
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- NOAA, Physical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Liyang Zhan
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of natural resources, Xiamen, China
| | - Jian Ren
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, 310012, China
| | - Hailong Liu
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Ivo Beck
- Extreme Environments Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Valais Wallis, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Dean Howard
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- NOAA, Physical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Tuija Jokinen
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR)/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Climate & Atmosphere Research Centre (CARE-C), The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Tiia Laurila
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR)/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lauriane Quéléver
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR)/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matthew Boyer
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR)/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tuukka Petäjä
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR)/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Stephen Archer
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Boothbay, ME, USA
| | - Ludovic Bariteau
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- NOAA, Physical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Detlev Helmig
- Boulder Atmosphere Innovation Research, Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | - Hans-Werner Jacobi
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Kevin Posman
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Boothbay, ME, USA
| | - Zhouqing Xie
- Institute of Polar Environment & Anhui Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China.
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Tham YJ, Sarnela N, Iyer S, Li Q, Angot H, Quéléver LLJ, Beck I, Laurila T, Beck LJ, Boyer M, Carmona-García J, Borrego-Sánchez A, Roca-Sanjuán D, Peräkylä O, Thakur RC, He XC, Zha Q, Howard D, Blomquist B, Archer SD, Bariteau L, Posman K, Hueber J, Helmig D, Jacobi HW, Junninen H, Kulmala M, Mahajan AS, Massling A, Skov H, Sipilä M, Francisco JS, Schmale J, Jokinen T, Saiz-Lopez A. Widespread detection of chlorine oxyacids in the Arctic atmosphere. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1769. [PMID: 36997509 PMCID: PMC10063661 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37387-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlorine radicals are strong atmospheric oxidants known to play an important role in the depletion of surface ozone and the degradation of methane in the Arctic troposphere. Initial oxidation processes of chlorine produce chlorine oxides, and it has been speculated that the final oxidation steps lead to the formation of chloric (HClO3) and perchloric (HClO4) acids, although these two species have not been detected in the atmosphere. Here, we present atmospheric observations of gas-phase HClO3 and HClO4. Significant levels of HClO3 were observed during springtime at Greenland (Villum Research Station), Ny-Ålesund research station and over the central Arctic Ocean, on-board research vessel Polarstern during the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of the Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) campaign, with estimated concentrations up to 7 × 106 molecule cm-3. The increase in HClO3, concomitantly with that in HClO4, was linked to the increase in bromine levels. These observations indicated that bromine chemistry enhances the formation of OClO, which is subsequently oxidized into HClO3 and HClO4 by hydroxyl radicals. HClO3 and HClO4 are not photoactive and therefore their loss through heterogeneous uptake on aerosol and snow surfaces can function as a previously missing atmospheric sink for reactive chlorine, thereby reducing the chlorine-driven oxidation capacity in the Arctic boundary layer. Our study reveals additional chlorine species in the atmosphere, providing further insights into atmospheric chlorine cycling in the polar environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yee Jun Tham
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Zhuhai, 519082, China.
| | - Nina Sarnela
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Siddharth Iyer
- Aerosol Physics Laboratory, Tampere University, Tampere, FI-3720, Finland
| | - Qinyi Li
- Department of Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate, Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, CSIC, Madrid, 28006, Spain
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hélène Angot
- Extreme Environments Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, (EPFL) Valais Wallis, Sion, Switzerland
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Lauriane L J Quéléver
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ivo Beck
- Extreme Environments Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, (EPFL) Valais Wallis, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Tiia Laurila
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lisa J Beck
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matthew Boyer
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Javier Carmona-García
- Institut de Ciència Molecular, Universitat de València, P.O. Box 22085, València, 46071, Spain
| | - Ana Borrego-Sánchez
- Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, CSIC-University of Granada, Av. de las Palmeras 4, 18100, Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - Daniel Roca-Sanjuán
- Institut de Ciència Molecular, Universitat de València, P.O. Box 22085, València, 46071, Spain
| | - Otso Peräkylä
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Roseline C Thakur
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Xu-Cheng He
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Qiaozhi Zha
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dean Howard
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Physical Sciences Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO, 80305, USA
| | - Byron Blomquist
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Physical Sciences Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO, 80305, USA
| | - Stephen D Archer
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, Maine, USA
| | - Ludovic Bariteau
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Physical Sciences Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO, 80305, USA
| | - Kevin Posman
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, Maine, USA
| | - Jacques Hueber
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- JH Atmospheric Instrumentation Design, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Detlev Helmig
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Boulder Atmosphere Innovation Research LLC, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Hans-Werner Jacobi
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Heikki Junninen
- Laboratory of Environmental Physics, Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Markku Kulmala
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anoop S Mahajan
- Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Pune, 411008, India
| | - Andreas Massling
- Department of Environmental Science, iClimate, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Henrik Skov
- Department of Environmental Science, iClimate, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Mikko Sipilä
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joseph S Francisco
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
| | - Julia Schmale
- Extreme Environments Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, (EPFL) Valais Wallis, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Tuija Jokinen
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
- Climate and Atmosphere Research Centre (CARE-C), the Cyprus Institute, P.O. Box 27456, Nicosia, CY-1645, Cyprus.
| | - Alfonso Saiz-Lopez
- Department of Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate, Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, CSIC, Madrid, 28006, Spain.
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Helmig D, Fangmeyer J, Fuchs J, Hueber J, Smith K. Evaluation of selected solid adsorbents for passive sampling of atmospheric oil and natural gas non-methane hydrocarbons. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 2022; 72:235-255. [PMID: 34738882 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2021.2000518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This project investigated passive adsorbent sampling of light (C2-C5) hydrocarbons which are sensitive tracers of fugitive emissions from oil and natural gas (O&NG) sources. Stronger adsorbent materials, i.e. Carboxen 1000 and Carboxen 1016, than those typically used in adsorbent sampling were considered. Experiments were conducted in laboratory and field settings using thermal desorption - gas chromatography analysis. Uptake of water vapor and system blanks were challenges inherent to the increased affinity of these adsorbents. Carboxen 1000 exhibited the best signal-to-noise ratio for the target compounds after optimizing conditioning parameters to reduce blanks, and by reducing the adsorbent mass loaded in the cartridge. This strategy reduced blanks to equivalent ambient air mole fractions of <0.05 nmol mol-1 (ppb), and allowed determination of these O&NG tracers over three-day sampling intervals with a lower detection limit of ≥0.5-1 ppb. Linear VOCs uptake was observed in dry air. Water uptake was as high as 0.65 gH2O g-1adsorbent at relative humidity (RH) above ≈ 75%. The water collection passivates adsorbent sites and competes with the uptake rates of VOCs; under the worst case relative humidity level of 95% RH, VOCs uptake rates dropped to 27-39% of those in dry air. This effect potentially causes results to be biased low when cartridges are deployed at high relative humidity (RH), including overnight, when RH is often elevated over daytime levels. Nonetheless, representative sampling results were obtained under ambient conditions during three field studies where cartridges were evaluated alongside whole air sample collection in canisters. Agreement varied by compound: Ethane and alkenes correlated poorly and could not be analyzed with satisfactory results; results for C3-C5 alkanes were much better: i-butane correlated with R2 > 0.5, and propane, n-butane, i-pentane, and n-pentane with R2 > 0.75, which demonstrates the feasibility of the passive sampling of these latter O&NG tracers. Implications: Oil and natural gas development has been associated with emissions of petroleum hydrocarbons that impact air quality and human health. This research characterizes and defines the application possibilities of solid adsorbent sampling for atmospheric passive sampling monitoring of low molecular weight volatile organic compounds (i.e. ethane through pentane isomers) that are most commonly emitted from natural gas drilling and well sites. The passive sampling of these pollutants offers a simple, low cost, and readily applicable monitoring method for assessing emissions and air quality impacts in the surroundings of oil and gas operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Detlev Helmig
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Boulder A.I.R. LLC, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Jens Fangmeyer
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Joshua Fuchs
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jacques Hueber
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Kate Smith
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, UK
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4
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Angot H, McErlean K, Hu L, Millet DB, Hueber J, Cui K, Moss J, Wielgasz C, Milligan T, Ketcherside D, Bret-Harte MS, Helmig D. Biogenic volatile organic compound ambient mixing ratios and emission rates in the Alaskan Arctic tundra. Biogeosciences 2020; 17:6219-6236. [PMID: 35222652 PMCID: PMC8872036 DOI: 10.5194/bg-17-6219-2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Rapid Arctic warming, a lengthening growing season, and the increasing abundance of biogenic volatile-organic-compound-emitting shrubs are all anticipated to increase atmospheric biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) in the Arctic atmosphere, with implications for atmospheric oxidation processes and climate feedbacks. Quantifying these changes requires an accurate understanding of the underlying processes driving BVOC emissions in the Arctic. While boreal ecosystems have been widely studied, little attention has been paid to Arctic tundra environments. Here, we report terpenoid (isoprene, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes) ambient mixing ratios and emission rates from key dominant vegetation species at Toolik Field Station (TFS; 68°38' N, 149°36' W) in northern Alaska during two back-to-back field campaigns (summers of 2018 and 2019) covering the entire growing season. Isoprene ambient mixing ratios observed at TFS fell within the range of values reported in the Eurasian taiga (0-500 parts per trillion by volume - pptv), while monoterpene and sesquiterpene ambient mixing ratios were respectively close to and below the instrumental quantification limit (~ 2 pptv). Isoprene surface emission rates ranged from 0.2 to 2250 μgC m-2 h-1 (mean of 85 μgC m-2 h-1) and monoterpene emission rates remained, on average, below 1 μgC m-2 h-1 over the course of the study. We further quantified the temperature dependence of isoprene emissions from local vegetation, including Salix spp. (a known isoprene emitter), and compared the results to predictions from the Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature version 2.1 (MEGAN2.1). Our observations suggest a 180 %-215 % emission increase in response to a 3-4°C warming, and the MEGAN2.1 temperature algorithm exhibits a close fit with observations for enclosure temperatures in the 0-30°C range. The data presented here provide a baseline for investigating future changes in the BVOC emission potential of the under-studied Arctic tundra environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Angot
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Katelyn McErlean
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Lu Hu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Dylan B. Millet
- Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis–Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | - Jacques Hueber
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Kaixin Cui
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Jacob Moss
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Catherine Wielgasz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Tyler Milligan
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Damien Ketcherside
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | | | - Detlev Helmig
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
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Obrist D, Agnan Y, Jiskra M, Olson CL, Colegrove DP, Hueber J, Moore CW, Sonke JE, Helmig D. Tundra uptake of atmospheric elemental mercury drives Arctic mercury pollution. Nature 2017; 547:201-204. [PMID: 28703199 DOI: 10.1038/nature22997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities have led to large-scale mercury (Hg) pollution in the Arctic. It has been suggested that sea-salt-induced chemical cycling of Hg (through 'atmospheric mercury depletion events', or AMDEs) and wet deposition via precipitation are sources of Hg to the Arctic in its oxidized form (Hg(ii)). However, there is little evidence for the occurrence of AMDEs outside of coastal regions, and their importance to net Hg deposition has been questioned. Furthermore, wet-deposition measurements in the Arctic showed some of the lowest levels of Hg deposition via precipitation worldwide, raising questions as to the sources of high Arctic Hg loading. Here we present a comprehensive Hg-deposition mass-balance study, and show that most of the Hg (about 70%) in the interior Arctic tundra is derived from gaseous elemental Hg (Hg(0)) deposition, with only minor contributions from the deposition of Hg(ii) via precipitation or AMDEs. We find that deposition of Hg(0)-the form ubiquitously present in the global atmosphere-occurs throughout the year, and that it is enhanced in summer through the uptake of Hg(0) by vegetation. Tundra uptake of gaseous Hg(0) leads to high soil Hg concentrations, with Hg masses greatly exceeding the levels found in temperate soils. Our concurrent Hg stable isotope measurements in the atmosphere, snowpack, vegetation and soils support our finding that Hg(0) dominates as a source to the tundra. Hg concentration and stable isotope data from an inland-to-coastal transect show high soil Hg concentrations consistently derived from Hg(0), suggesting that the Arctic tundra might be a globally important Hg sink. We suggest that the high tundra soil Hg concentrations might also explain why Arctic rivers annually transport large amounts of Hg to the Arctic Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Obrist
- Department of Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854, USA.,Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA
| | - Yannick Agnan
- Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA.,Milieux Environnementaux, Transferts et Interactions dans les Hydrosystèmes et les Sols (METIS), UMR 7619, Sorbonne Universités UPMC-CNRS-EPHE, 4 place Jussieu, F-75252 Paris, France
| | - Martin Jiskra
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/OMP/Université de Toulouse, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Christine L Olson
- Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA
| | - Dominique P Colegrove
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado, 4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| | - Jacques Hueber
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado, 4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| | - Christopher W Moore
- Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA.,Gas Technology Institute (GTI), 1700 South Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018, USA
| | - Jeroen E Sonke
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/OMP/Université de Toulouse, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Detlev Helmig
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado, 4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
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Helmig D, Thompson CR, Evans J, Boylan P, Hueber J, Park JH. Highly elevated atmospheric levels of volatile organic compounds in the Uintah Basin, Utah. Environ Sci Technol 2014; 48:4707-15. [PMID: 24624890 DOI: 10.1021/es405046r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Oil and natural gas production in the Western United States has grown rapidly in recent years, and with this industrial expansion, growing environmental concerns have arisen regarding impacts on water supplies and air quality. Recent studies have revealed highly enhanced atmospheric levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from primary emissions in regions of heavy oil and gas development and associated rapid photochemical production of ozone during winter. Here, we present surface and vertical profile observations of VOC from the Uintah Basin Winter Ozone Studies conducted in January-February of 2012 and 2013. These measurements identify highly elevated levels of atmospheric alkane hydrocarbons with enhanced rates of C2-C5 nonmethane hydrocarbon (NMHC) mean mole fractions during temperature inversion events in 2013 at 200-300 times above the regional and seasonal background. Elevated atmospheric NMHC mole fractions coincided with build-up of ambient 1-h ozone to levels exceeding 150 ppbv (parts per billion by volume). The total annual mass flux of C2-C7 VOC was estimated at 194 ± 56 × 10(6) kg yr(-1), equivalent to the annual VOC emissions of a fleet of ∼100 million automobiles. Total annual fugitive emission of the aromatic compounds benzene and toluene, considered air toxics, were estimated at 1.6 ± 0.4 × 10(6) and 2.0 ± 0.5 × 10(6) kg yr(-1), respectively. These observations reveal a strong causal link between oil and gas emissions, accumulation of air toxics, and significant production of ozone in the atmospheric surface layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Helmig
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado , Boulder, Colorado 80309-0450, United States
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Rhoderick GC, Duewer DL, Apel E, Baldan A, Hall B, Harling A, Helmig D, Heo GS, Hueber J, Kim ME, Kim YD, Miller B, Montzka S, Riemer D. International comparison of a hydrocarbon gas standard at the picomol per mol level. Anal Chem 2014; 86:2580-9. [PMID: 24555659 DOI: 10.1021/ac403761u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Studies of climate change increasingly recognize the diverse influences of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere, including roles in particulates and ozone formation. Measurements of key nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) suggest atmospheric mole fractions ranging from low picomoles per mol (ppt) to nanomoles per mol (ppb), depending on location and compound. To accurately establish mole fraction trends and to relate measurement records from many laboratories and researchers, it is essential to have accurate, stable, calibration standards. In February of 2008, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) developed and reported on picomoles per mol standards containing 18 nonmethane hydrocarbon compounds covering the mole fraction range of 60 picomoles per mol to 230 picomoles per mol. The stability of these gas mixtures was only characterized over a short time period (2 to 3 months). NIST recently prepared a suite of primary standard gas mixtures by gravimetric dilution to ascertain the stability of the 2008 picomoles per mol NMHC standards suite. The data from this recent chromatographic intercomparison of the 2008 to the 2011 suites confirm a much longer stability of almost 5 years for 15 of the 18 hydrocarbons; the double-bonded alkenes of propene, isobutene, and 1-pentene showed instability, in line with previous publications. The agreement between the gravimetric values from preparation and the analytical mole fractions determined from regression illustrate the internal consistency of the suite within ±2 pmol/mol. However, results for several of the compounds reflect stability problems for the three double-bonded hydrocarbons. An international intercomparison on one of the 2008 standards has also been completed. Participants included National Metrology Institutes, United States government laboratories, and academic laboratories. In general, results for this intercomparison agree to within about ±5% with the gravimetric mole fractions of the hydrocarbons.
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Affiliation(s)
- George C Rhoderick
- Chemical Sciences Division, Materials Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology , 100 Bureau Drive, MS-8393, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8393, United States
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Hu L, Millet DB, Kim SY, Wells KC, Griffis TJ, Fischer EV, Helmig D, Hueber J, Curtis AJ. North American acetone sources determined from tall tower measurements and inverse modeling. Atmos Chem Phys 2013; 13:3379-3392. [PMID: 33719355 PMCID: PMC7954043 DOI: 10.5194/acp-13-3379-2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
We apply a full year of continuous atmospheric acetone measurements from the University of Minnesota tall tower Trace Gas Observatory (KCMP tall tower; 244 m a.g.l.), with a 0.5° × 0.667° GEOS-Chem nested grid simulation to develop quantitative new constraints on seasonal acetone sources over North America. Biogenic acetone emissions in the model are computed based on the MEGANv2.1 inventory. An inverse analysis of the tall tower observations implies a 37% underestimate of emissions from broadleaf trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, and an offsetting 40% overestimate of emissions from needleleaf trees plus secondary production from biogenic precursors. The overall result is a small (16%) model underestimate of the total primary + secondary biogenic acetone source in North America. Our analysis shows that North American primary + secondary anthropogenic acetone sources in the model (based on the EPA NEI 2005 inventory) are accurate to within approximately 20%. An optimized GEOS-Chem simulation incorporating the above findings captures 70% of the variance (R = 0.83) in the hourly measurements at the KCMP tall tower, with minimal bias. The resulting North American acetone source is 11 Tg a-1, including both primary emissions (5.5 Tg a-1) and secondary production (5.5 Tg a-1), and with roughly equal contributions from anthropogenic and biogenic sources. The North American acetone source alone is nearly as large as the total continental volatile organic compound (VOC) source from fossil fuel combustion. Using our optimized source estimates as a baseline, we evaluate the sensitivity of atmospheric acetone and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) to shifts in natural and anthropogenic acetone sources over North America. Increased biogenic acetone emissions due to surface warming are likely to provide a significant offset to any future decrease in anthropogenic acetone emissions, particularly during summer.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Hu
- Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - D. B. Millet
- Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - S. Y. Kim
- Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - K. C. Wells
- Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - T. J. Griffis
- Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - E. V. Fischer
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - D. Helmig
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Colorado, USA
| | - J. Hueber
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Colorado, USA
| | - A. J. Curtis
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Colorado, USA
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Helmig D, Lang EK, Bariteau L, Boylan P, Fairall CW, Ganzeveld L, Hare JE, Hueber J, Pallandt M. Atmosphere-ocean ozone fluxes during the TexAQS 2006, STRATUS 2006, GOMECC 2007, GasEx 2008, and AMMA 2008 cruises. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/2011jd015955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Grachev AA, Bariteau L, Fairall CW, Hare JE, Helmig D, Hueber J, Lang EK. Turbulent fluxes and transfer of trace gases from ship-based measurements during TexAQS 2006. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1029/2010jd015502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Pollmann J, Helmig D, Hueber J, Plass-Dülmer C, Tans P. Sampling, storage, and analysis of C2–C7 non-methane hydrocarbons from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Cooperative Air Sampling Network glass flasks. J Chromatogr A 2008; 1188:75-87. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2008.02.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2007] [Revised: 02/07/2008] [Accepted: 02/14/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Pollmann J, Helmig D, Hueber J, Tanner D, Tans PP. Evaluation of solid adsorbent materials for cryogen-free trapping—gas chromatographic analysis of atmospheric C2–C6 non-methane hydrocarbons. J Chromatogr A 2006; 1134:1-15. [PMID: 17010353 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2006.08.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2006] [Revised: 08/17/2006] [Accepted: 08/17/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Nine commercial solid adsorbent materials (in order of decreasing surface area: Carboxen 1000, Carbosieve S III, molecular sieve 5A, molecular sieve 4A, silica gel, Carboxen 563, activated alumina, Carbotrap and Carboxen 1016) were investigated for their ability to trap and release C2-C6 non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) in atmospheric samples for subsequent thermal desorption gas chromatography-flame ionization detection analysis (GC-FID). Recovery rates for 23 NMHCs and methyl chloride (CH3Cl) were determined. A microtrap filled with the three adsorbents Carbosieve S III, Carboxen 563 and Carboxen 1016 was found to allow for the analysis of the widest range of target analytes. A detection limit of approximately 3pptC [parts per trillion (carbon)] in a 1l air sample and a linear response over a wide range of volatilities and sample volumes was determined for this configuration. Water vapor in the sample air was found to causes interference in trapping and subsequent chromatographic analysis of light NMHCs. A Peltier-cooled, regenerable water trap inserted into the sample flow path was found to mitigate these problems and to allow quantitative and reproducible results for all analytes at all tested humidity conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Pollmann
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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Tanner D, Helmig D, Hueber J, Goldan P. Gas chromatography system for the automated, unattended, and cryogen-free monitoring of C2 to C6 non-methane hydrocarbons in the remote troposphere. J Chromatogr A 2006; 1111:76-88. [PMID: 16497314 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2006.01.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2005] [Revised: 01/23/2006] [Accepted: 01/24/2006] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
An unattended, automated, on-line, cryogen-free, remotely controlled gas chromatography (GC) system was developed and has been deployed for more than 1 year for the continuous determination of C(2) to C(6) hydrocarbons at an observatory located at 2225 m elevation, on the summit caldera of an inactive volcano on the island of Pico, Azores. The GC instrument is tailored to the measurement challenges at this remote and high altitude site. All consumable gases are prepared in situ. Total power use remains below 700 W at all times. Sample collection and analysis is performed without use of cryogen. Hydrocarbons are concentrated on a one-stage trapping/injection system consisting of a Peltier-cooled multi-bed solid adsorbent trap. Analytes are detected after thermal desorption and separation on an alumina-PLOT (porous-layer open tubular) column by flame ionization detection (FID). Sample focusing, desorption, separation and detection parameters were thoroughly investigated to ensure quantitative collection and subsequent injection onto the GC system. GC operation is controlled remotely and data are downloaded daily. Sample volumes (600 and 3000 ml) are alternated for analysis of C(2) to C(3) and C(3) to C(6) hydrocarbons, respectively. Detection limits are in the low parts per trillion by volume (pptv) range, sufficient for quantification of the compounds of interest at their central North Atlantic lower free troposphere background concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Tanner
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado at Boulder, 80309-0450, USA
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