Atmospheric deposition of mercury and major ions to the Pensacola (Florida) watershed: spatial, seasonal, and inter-annual variability

Abstract

Atmospheric deposition was measured at three sites in the Pensacola Bay watershed, Florida, between November 2004 and December 2007. Mercury deposition in the Pensacola Bay watershed was similar to that from nearby Mercury Deposition Network sites along the Northern Gulf of Mexico coast. Mercury deposition during the summer months is higher than other months due to higher concentrations in rainfall throughout the region. Deposition of constituents like H⁺, sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, chloride and sodium, were much higher in Pensacola Bay that at National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) sites. Chloride and sodium deposition are higher because Pensacola Bay sites are closer to the Gulf of Mexico which is a source of sea salt aerosols. Acid rain constituents, H⁺, sulfate, nitrate and ammonium are most likely higher at Pensacola Bay sites because these sites are much closer to emission sources of these constituents than NADP sites, particularly two Florida NADP sites, FL14 and FL23, which are located in rural counties far from major industrial activities.