SUMAC · TrendS and Uncertainties in Mercury (Hg) Atmospheric Chemistry
Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2024-01-16 → 2026-01-15
- EU contribution
- €181,153
- Participants
- 2
- Scheme
- HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
TrendS and Uncertainties in Mercury (Hg) Atmospheric Chemistry
Mercury (Hg) is a toxic heavy metal that bioaccumulates in aquatic food chains, endangering human health through the consumption of seafood. The atmospheric chemistry of Hg determines how far it can be transported and where it will ultimately deposit, since elemental mercury (Hg(0)) is insoluble and long-lived in the atmosphere (~6 months), while oxidized divalent mercury (Hg(II)) is rained out within days. However, there are many uncertainties associated with atmospheric Hg chemistry, leading to uncertain predictions of its fate and ecosystem impacts. Additionally, it is unknown how Hg chemistry and transport have been affected by historical trends in atmospheric oxidant concentrations (e.g., ozone and halogens). The SUMAC project set out to address these unknowns by integrating the latest knowledge from laboratory kinetics, computational chemistry, and field measurements into a global atmospheric Hg model. The objectives of the project included: 1) evaluate the key uncertainties in atmospheric Hg models; 2) develop new constraints for Hg chemistry based on field observations; 3) identify time-varying trends in the atmospheric lifetime of Hg due to changes to atmospheric composition. By being the first study to quantify the influence of atmospheric chemistry on Hg trends, SUMAC will improve our capability to predict the evolution of Hg pollution in the future. These modeling efforts can help inform policymakers involved in the Minamata Convention on Mercury, an international treaty aimed at protecting human health from Hg risks.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Anthropogenic emissions of the toxic heavy metal mercury (Hg) threaten human health and ecosystems. The elemental form of emitted gaseous mercury, Hg(0), can be transported globally in the atmosphere due to its long lifetime of 4–6 months, but upon oxidation it forms soluble divalent mercury, Hg(II), which is rained out within days. However, there are many uncertainties associated with atmospheric Hg chemistry, leading to uncertain predictions of its fate and ecosystem impacts. Additionally, it is unknown how Hg cycling has been affected by recent, global change-induced trends in atmospheric oxidants (e.g., ozone and halogens). To address these knowledge gaps, the interdisciplinary SUMAC project will train the experienced researcher (ER) to integrate the latest knowledge from laboratory kinetics, computational and isotope chemistry, and field measurements into a global atmospheric Hg model, GEOS-Chem. By applying statistical methods from the field of global sensitivity analysis, the ER will identify the key chemical reaction rates that contribute the most to the uncertainty in the atmospheric Hg lifetime. Using Bayesian inference methods, the ER will develop constraints from field measurements for these reaction rates, establishing a new chemical mechanism for atmospheric Hg models. With the refined Hg chemical mechanism, the ER will conduct historical and future simulations to evaluate temporal trends in the Hg chemical lifetime and resultant impacts on Hg dispersion and deposition. By being the first study to quantify the influence of atmospheric chemistry on observed Hg trends, SUMAC will support the effectiveness evaluation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, an international treaty aimed at reducing Hg emissions. Aside from the breakthrough research outcomes, SUMAC will strengthen the capacity of Hg modelling within Europe through the ER’s training activities, knowledge transfer to host institutions, open-access model development, and outreach.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
Links
- View on CORDIS
- DOI: 10.3030/101103544
- https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/documents/downloadPublic?documentIds=080166e50f804752&appId=PPGMS
- https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/documents/downloadPublic?documentIds=080166e526615671&appId=PPGMS
Data: CORDIS, © European Union