Glacial‐Interglacial Climate Cycles of Atmospheric Hg Deposition: Insights From Hg Isotopes in Loess‐Paleosol Sequences on the Chinese Loess Plateau
Abstract As a highly volatile heavy metal, Hg is transported over long distances in the atmosphere and enters global ecosystems via Hg(II) wet deposition and Hg(0) dry deposition. The Chinese Loess Plateau develops loess‐paleosol sequences (eolian deposits) reflecting glacial‐interglacial cycles. He...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113960 |
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| author | Wen Xue Zhidong Xu Xing Cheng Longfei Gou Maoyong He Zhangdong Jin Miling Li Linchuan Fang Runsheng Yin |
| author_facet | Wen Xue Zhidong Xu Xing Cheng Longfei Gou Maoyong He Zhangdong Jin Miling Li Linchuan Fang Runsheng Yin |
| author_sort | Wen Xue |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract As a highly volatile heavy metal, Hg is transported over long distances in the atmosphere and enters global ecosystems via Hg(II) wet deposition and Hg(0) dry deposition. The Chinese Loess Plateau develops loess‐paleosol sequences (eolian deposits) reflecting glacial‐interglacial cycles. Here, we investigate the Hg concentration and isotopic composition of loess‐paleosol sequences covering three glacial‐interglacial cycles (spanning 350–80 ka). Paleosol layers display higher THg, Δ199Hg, and Δ200Hg values than loess layers, meaning enhanced Hg(II) wet deposition during interglacials. Based on a Δ200Hg‐based mixing model, Hg(II) wet and Hg(0) dry depositions account for 42% and 58% of Hg input into the Chinese Loess Plateau during interglacials but 21% and 79% during glacials, respectively. This work highlights a strong climatic control on atmospheric Hg deposition at glacial‐interglacial time scales, and suggests that atmospheric Hg deposition will likely increase in middle latitudes without considering perturbations of anthropogenic emissions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c0375bdcd6f944d28848731529e09e66 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-c0375bdcd6f944d28848731529e09e662025-08-20T02:30:59ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-04-01527n/an/a10.1029/2024GL113960Glacial‐Interglacial Climate Cycles of Atmospheric Hg Deposition: Insights From Hg Isotopes in Loess‐Paleosol Sequences on the Chinese Loess PlateauWen Xue0Zhidong Xu1Xing Cheng2Longfei Gou3Maoyong He4Zhangdong Jin5Miling Li6Linchuan Fang7Runsheng Yin8State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry Institute of Geochemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Guiyang ChinaState Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry Institute of Geochemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Guiyang ChinaShaanxi Experimental Center of Geological Survey Shaanxi Institute of Geological Survey Xi'an ChinaState Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology Institute of Earth Environment Chinese Academy of Sciences Xi'an ChinaState Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology Institute of Earth Environment Chinese Academy of Sciences Xi'an ChinaState Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology Institute of Earth Environment Chinese Academy of Sciences Xi'an ChinaSchool of Marine Science and Policy University of Delaware Newark DE USACollege of Natural Resources and Environment Northwest A&F University Yangling ChinaState Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry Institute of Geochemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Guiyang ChinaAbstract As a highly volatile heavy metal, Hg is transported over long distances in the atmosphere and enters global ecosystems via Hg(II) wet deposition and Hg(0) dry deposition. The Chinese Loess Plateau develops loess‐paleosol sequences (eolian deposits) reflecting glacial‐interglacial cycles. Here, we investigate the Hg concentration and isotopic composition of loess‐paleosol sequences covering three glacial‐interglacial cycles (spanning 350–80 ka). Paleosol layers display higher THg, Δ199Hg, and Δ200Hg values than loess layers, meaning enhanced Hg(II) wet deposition during interglacials. Based on a Δ200Hg‐based mixing model, Hg(II) wet and Hg(0) dry depositions account for 42% and 58% of Hg input into the Chinese Loess Plateau during interglacials but 21% and 79% during glacials, respectively. This work highlights a strong climatic control on atmospheric Hg deposition at glacial‐interglacial time scales, and suggests that atmospheric Hg deposition will likely increase in middle latitudes without considering perturbations of anthropogenic emissions.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113960 |
| spellingShingle | Wen Xue Zhidong Xu Xing Cheng Longfei Gou Maoyong He Zhangdong Jin Miling Li Linchuan Fang Runsheng Yin Glacial‐Interglacial Climate Cycles of Atmospheric Hg Deposition: Insights From Hg Isotopes in Loess‐Paleosol Sequences on the Chinese Loess Plateau Geophysical Research Letters |
| title | Glacial‐Interglacial Climate Cycles of Atmospheric Hg Deposition: Insights From Hg Isotopes in Loess‐Paleosol Sequences on the Chinese Loess Plateau |
| title_full | Glacial‐Interglacial Climate Cycles of Atmospheric Hg Deposition: Insights From Hg Isotopes in Loess‐Paleosol Sequences on the Chinese Loess Plateau |
| title_fullStr | Glacial‐Interglacial Climate Cycles of Atmospheric Hg Deposition: Insights From Hg Isotopes in Loess‐Paleosol Sequences on the Chinese Loess Plateau |
| title_full_unstemmed | Glacial‐Interglacial Climate Cycles of Atmospheric Hg Deposition: Insights From Hg Isotopes in Loess‐Paleosol Sequences on the Chinese Loess Plateau |
| title_short | Glacial‐Interglacial Climate Cycles of Atmospheric Hg Deposition: Insights From Hg Isotopes in Loess‐Paleosol Sequences on the Chinese Loess Plateau |
| title_sort | glacial interglacial climate cycles of atmospheric hg deposition insights from hg isotopes in loess paleosol sequences on the chinese loess plateau |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113960 |
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