Influences on and patterns in total gaseous mercury (TGM) at Harwell, England

Environ Sci Process Impacts. 2015 Mar;17(3):586-95. doi: 10.1039/c4em00652f.

Abstract

Total gaseous mercury (TGM) was monitored during 2013 at the rural monitoring site, Harwell, England using the Tekran 2537A monitoring system. Average TGM for the year was 1.45 ± 0.24 ng m(-3). This is comparable to other northern hemisphere studies, but on average 0.5 ng m(-3) higher than at its sister monitoring station at Auchencorth Moss, Scotland, but 14% lower than that found in a similar study at the same location of 1.68 ng m(-3) in 1995/6. Using wind sector analysis we show the important influence of local emissions, with our data showing that the largest influence on TGM observed is that of the adjacent Science & Innovation campus, making the site more a 'suburban background'. By using co-located measurements of black carbon and sulphur dioxide as tracers, we present an initial investigation into the impact of the closure of Didcot A coal fired power station, which ceased operating in March 2013. Further analysis using air mass back trajectories shows the long-range contribution to TGM from continental Europe, and that the lowest levels are associated with marine air masses from the west.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / analysis*
  • Air Pollution / statistics & numerical data
  • Atmosphere / chemistry
  • England
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Mercury / analysis*
  • Wind

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Mercury