Baseline atmospheric mercury studies at Ross Island, Antarctica

[摘要] The first extended baseline studies of total gaseous mercury (TGM) and dimethylmercury (DMM) in Antarctica are reported. Mean TGM concentrations of 0.52, 0.60 and 0.52 ng m−3 were obtained for three consecutive years at the southern tip of Ross Island (77°S). The levels of DMM in Antarctica are less than 10% of the TGM, and frequently fall below the limit of detection. These results represent the lowest TGM concentrations recorded globally and extend into polar regions the observation of a decrease in atmospheric mercury concentration with increasing latitude.

[学科分类] 自然科学（综合）