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Updated: Jul 20, 2026
12:59
A Study of the Complexation of Mercury(II) with Dicysteinyl Tetrapeptides by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Published on: January 8, 2016
Atmospheric mercury speciation in Yellowstone National Park
B D Hall1, M L Olson, A P Rutter
1Environmental Chemistry and Technology Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
The Science of the Total Environment
|January 26, 2006
Summary
Wildfires in Yellowstone National Park were the primary source of particulate mercury (pHg) and aerosols. While geothermal activity elevated elemental mercury (Hg(0)), wildfire smoke significantly impacted pHg levels at the monitoring site.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Atmospheric Chemistry
- Geochemistry
Background:
- Atmospheric mercury (Hg) exists in various forms, including elemental mercury (Hg(0)), reactive gaseous mercury (RGM), and particulate mercury (pHg).
- Yellowstone National Park (YNP) possesses significant geothermal activity, a known source of mercury emissions.
- Wildfires are recurrent events in YNP, potentially releasing mercury and other pollutants into the atmosphere.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify atmospheric mercury species (Hg(0), RGM, pHg) concentrations in Yellowstone National Park.
- To identify and differentiate the sources of atmospheric mercury, particularly particulate mercury, within YNP.
- To investigate the relationship between aerosol properties and particulate mercury concentrations.
Main Methods:
- Real-time atmospheric mercury analyzers (Tekran 2537A, 1130, 1135) were used for high-resolution measurements.
- Aerosol chemical properties were analyzed using real-time single particle mass spectrometry (ATOFMS).
- Statistical analysis was employed to correlate mercury concentrations with criteria gases, particle concentrations, and aerosol signatures.
Main Results:
- Hg(0) concentrations generally reflected global background levels, except at geothermal sites with elevated levels (approx. 9.0 ng m⁻³).
- RGM concentrations were consistently low (below 0.88 pg m⁻³), and pHg ranged from below detection limits to ~30 pg m⁻³.
- Particulate mercury (pHg) showed a weak correlation with particle concentration and was strongly linked to wildfire-specific aerosol signatures, not geothermal or soil sources.
Conclusions:
- Wildfires were identified as the dominant source of aerosols and associated particulate mercury (pHg) at the intensive monitoring site in YNP.
- Geothermal activity significantly influences local elemental mercury (Hg(0)) concentrations but not particulate mercury levels.
- Atmospheric mercury speciation and source attribution require consideration of multiple emission sources and atmospheric processes.
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