Global and Regional Mercury Cycles: Sources, Fluxes and Mass Balances

Essential themes in the biochemical cycling of mercury are the relative importance of anthropogenic versus natural sources, transformation and migration processes at the local, regional and global scale, global emission inventories of different mercury sources (both point and diffuse) of both natural and anthropogenic origin. In this regard, Siberia, with its vast territory and variety of natural zones, is of special interest in the global mercury cycle and in terms of the influence of geographical zones on source and sink terms in regional budgets. Siberia contains large areas of mercuriferous belts; natural deposits that emit mercury into the atmosphere and water. Siberian gold has been mined with the use of mercury since the early 1800s. But there, too, huge forest zones and vast areas of tundra and wetland (bogs) can act as efficient sinks for atmospheric mercury. Audience: Environmental scientists, legislators, politicians and the interested citizen wishing to gain a clear picture of the biogeochemical cycling of mercury.

Inhalt

Preface. Foreword. Part 1: Analytical Aspects on the Determination of Mercury. Part 2: Mercury Fluxes and Budgets. 2.1. Global Regional and Local Mercury Budgets. 2.2. Emission Inventories and Regional Transport Models for Mercury. 2.3. Mercury Cycling in the Oceans. 2.4. Mercury in Lakes, Rivers and Estuaries. 2.5. Hg in Terrestrial Systems. Part 3: Natural and Industrial Sources of Mercury. 3.1. Eastern Europe and Siberia. 3.2. Tropical Regions. Part 4: Conclusions of the Working Group Discussions. 4.1. Working Group Report on Atmospheric Mercury. 4.2. Working Group Report on Oceanic Mercury Cycling. 4.3. Working Group Report on Terrestrial Mercury Cycling. 4.4. Working Group Report on Inland Waters. Subject Index.