Spatial and temporal variations of total mercury in Antarctic snow along the transect from Zhongshan Station to Dome A

Abstract

In this study, the concentrations of total mercury (THg) and ions deposited in the surface snow and snow pits in the eastern Antarctic along the 29th inland route of the Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition were analysed. The THg concentrations in the surface snow ranged from 0.22 to 8.29 ng/L and elevated concentrations were detected in the inland regions of higher altitudes (3000–4000 m). The spatial distribution of the THg in the snow pits showed greater inland concentrations with mean concentrations of <0.2–1.33 ng/L. The THg concentrations in the coastal snow pit (29-A) showed higher concentrations in the summer snow layers than in the winter snow layers. The THg records from the two inland snow pits (29-K and 29-L) spanned decades and indicated elevated THg concentrations between the late 1970s and early 1980s and during the mid-1990s. The temporal variations of THg in the Antarctic snow layers were consistent with anthropogenic emissions around the world. In addition, the Pinatubo volcanic eruption was the primary contributor to the 1992 THg peak that was observed in the inland snow pits.

Keywords

• total mercury
• spatio-temporal variation
• Dome A
• eastern Antarctica