Mercury Sources Between Zhongshan Station and Dome A, Eastern Antarctica Identified Using Mercury Stable Isotopes

Abstract Although mercury (Hg) is a neurotoxic metal of global relevance, its Antarctic biogeochemical cycles are not well characterized. Here, we present the total Hg (THg) distribution and stable isotopic fractionation between the Zhongshan Station and Dome A (1,248 km), in eastern Antarctica, to...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chuanjin Li, Jiubin Chen, Guitao Shi, Ruoyu Sun, Wang Zheng, Hélène Angot, Minghu Ding, Hongming Cai, Zhiheng Du, Rui Guo, Cunde Xiao, Bo Sun, Jiawen Ren, Dahe Qin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-02-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112649
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850275688752349184
author Chuanjin Li
Jiubin Chen
Guitao Shi
Ruoyu Sun
Wang Zheng
Hélène Angot
Minghu Ding
Hongming Cai
Zhiheng Du
Rui Guo
Cunde Xiao
Bo Sun
Jiawen Ren
Dahe Qin
author_facet Chuanjin Li
Jiubin Chen
Guitao Shi
Ruoyu Sun
Wang Zheng
Hélène Angot
Minghu Ding
Hongming Cai
Zhiheng Du
Rui Guo
Cunde Xiao
Bo Sun
Jiawen Ren
Dahe Qin
author_sort Chuanjin Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Although mercury (Hg) is a neurotoxic metal of global relevance, its Antarctic biogeochemical cycles are not well characterized. Here, we present the total Hg (THg) distribution and stable isotopic fractionation between the Zhongshan Station and Dome A (1,248 km), in eastern Antarctica, to characterize THg sources and controlling factors. Surface snow samples and snow blocks similarly exhibited higher THg concentrations in the coastal and interior sections than the intermediate section. From the THg distribution and stable isotopic fractionation (notably for 200Hg and 202Hg), we inferred an adjacent oceanic Hg source for the coastal section and primary oceanic sources at 63°S–55°S and 50°S–45°S for the intermediate and interior sections, respectively. Snow drifting and postdepositional effects also influenced THg concentrations and stable isotopic fractionation, particularly in areas with marked terrain slope variations. Finally, the stratospheric contribution of THg near Dome A was negligible, with a possible transport pathway through the lower troposphere.
format Article
id doaj-art-938f847f434249c188ff82dfd71a2f2c
institution OA Journals
issn 0094-8276
1944-8007
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-938f847f434249c188ff82dfd71a2f2c2025-08-20T01:50:38ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-02-01524n/an/a10.1029/2024GL112649Mercury Sources Between Zhongshan Station and Dome A, Eastern Antarctica Identified Using Mercury Stable IsotopesChuanjin Li0Jiubin Chen1Guitao Shi2Ruoyu Sun3Wang Zheng4Hélène Angot5Minghu Ding6Hongming Cai7Zhiheng Du8Rui Guo9Cunde Xiao10Bo Sun11Jiawen Ren12Dahe Qin13Polar Research Institute of China Shanghai ChinaInstitute of Surface‐Earth System Science Tianjin University Tianjin ChinaKey Laboratory of Geographic Information Science Ministry of Education School of Geographic Sciences State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research East China Normal University Shanghai ChinaInstitute of Surface‐Earth System Science Tianjin University Tianjin ChinaInstitute of Surface‐Earth System Science Tianjin University Tianjin ChinaInstitute of Environmental Geosciences (IGE) Université Grenoble Alpes Grenoble FranceInstitute of Tibetan Plateau and Polar Regions Meteorology Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences Beijing ChinaInstitute of Surface‐Earth System Science Tianjin University Tianjin ChinaState Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science Northwest Institute of Eco‐Environment and Resources Chinese Academy of Sciences Lanzhou ChinaKey Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands Northwest Institute of Eco‐Environment and Resources Chinese Academy of Sciences Lanzhou ChinaState Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology Beijing Normal University Beijing ChinaPolar Research Institute of China Shanghai ChinaState Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science Northwest Institute of Eco‐Environment and Resources Chinese Academy of Sciences Lanzhou ChinaState Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science Northwest Institute of Eco‐Environment and Resources Chinese Academy of Sciences Lanzhou ChinaAbstract Although mercury (Hg) is a neurotoxic metal of global relevance, its Antarctic biogeochemical cycles are not well characterized. Here, we present the total Hg (THg) distribution and stable isotopic fractionation between the Zhongshan Station and Dome A (1,248 km), in eastern Antarctica, to characterize THg sources and controlling factors. Surface snow samples and snow blocks similarly exhibited higher THg concentrations in the coastal and interior sections than the intermediate section. From the THg distribution and stable isotopic fractionation (notably for 200Hg and 202Hg), we inferred an adjacent oceanic Hg source for the coastal section and primary oceanic sources at 63°S–55°S and 50°S–45°S for the intermediate and interior sections, respectively. Snow drifting and postdepositional effects also influenced THg concentrations and stable isotopic fractionation, particularly in areas with marked terrain slope variations. Finally, the stratospheric contribution of THg near Dome A was negligible, with a possible transport pathway through the lower troposphere.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112649mercury stable isotopesmarine sourcesCHINARE transecteastern Antarctica
spellingShingle Chuanjin Li
Jiubin Chen
Guitao Shi
Ruoyu Sun
Wang Zheng
Hélène Angot
Minghu Ding
Hongming Cai
Zhiheng Du
Rui Guo
Cunde Xiao
Bo Sun
Jiawen Ren
Dahe Qin
Mercury Sources Between Zhongshan Station and Dome A, Eastern Antarctica Identified Using Mercury Stable Isotopes
Geophysical Research Letters
mercury stable isotopes
marine sources
CHINARE transect
eastern Antarctica
title Mercury Sources Between Zhongshan Station and Dome A, Eastern Antarctica Identified Using Mercury Stable Isotopes
title_full Mercury Sources Between Zhongshan Station and Dome A, Eastern Antarctica Identified Using Mercury Stable Isotopes
title_fullStr Mercury Sources Between Zhongshan Station and Dome A, Eastern Antarctica Identified Using Mercury Stable Isotopes
title_full_unstemmed Mercury Sources Between Zhongshan Station and Dome A, Eastern Antarctica Identified Using Mercury Stable Isotopes
title_short Mercury Sources Between Zhongshan Station and Dome A, Eastern Antarctica Identified Using Mercury Stable Isotopes
title_sort mercury sources between zhongshan station and dome a eastern antarctica identified using mercury stable isotopes
topic mercury stable isotopes
marine sources
CHINARE transect
eastern Antarctica
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112649
work_keys_str_mv AT chuanjinli mercurysourcesbetweenzhongshanstationanddomeaeasternantarcticaidentifiedusingmercurystableisotopes
AT jiubinchen mercurysourcesbetweenzhongshanstationanddomeaeasternantarcticaidentifiedusingmercurystableisotopes
AT guitaoshi mercurysourcesbetweenzhongshanstationanddomeaeasternantarcticaidentifiedusingmercurystableisotopes
AT ruoyusun mercurysourcesbetweenzhongshanstationanddomeaeasternantarcticaidentifiedusingmercurystableisotopes
AT wangzheng mercurysourcesbetweenzhongshanstationanddomeaeasternantarcticaidentifiedusingmercurystableisotopes
AT heleneangot mercurysourcesbetweenzhongshanstationanddomeaeasternantarcticaidentifiedusingmercurystableisotopes
AT minghuding mercurysourcesbetweenzhongshanstationanddomeaeasternantarcticaidentifiedusingmercurystableisotopes
AT hongmingcai mercurysourcesbetweenzhongshanstationanddomeaeasternantarcticaidentifiedusingmercurystableisotopes
AT zhihengdu mercurysourcesbetweenzhongshanstationanddomeaeasternantarcticaidentifiedusingmercurystableisotopes
AT ruiguo mercurysourcesbetweenzhongshanstationanddomeaeasternantarcticaidentifiedusingmercurystableisotopes
AT cundexiao mercurysourcesbetweenzhongshanstationanddomeaeasternantarcticaidentifiedusingmercurystableisotopes
AT bosun mercurysourcesbetweenzhongshanstationanddomeaeasternantarcticaidentifiedusingmercurystableisotopes
AT jiawenren mercurysourcesbetweenzhongshanstationanddomeaeasternantarcticaidentifiedusingmercurystableisotopes
AT daheqin mercurysourcesbetweenzhongshanstationanddomeaeasternantarcticaidentifiedusingmercurystableisotopes