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 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 200 Hg and 202 Hg), 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.
Authors
- Hélène Angot (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4673-8249)
- Zhiheng Du (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6638-8966)
- Minghu Ding (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1142-6598)
- Cunde Xiao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1706-4794)
- Wang Zheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3413-9700)
- Hongming Cai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9629-9590)
- Jiubin Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7299-0355)
- Chuanjin Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3734-1709)
- Rui Guo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5165-7905)
- Bo Sun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2043-9825)
- Guitao Shi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1702-6322)
- Jiawen Ren
- Ruoyu Sun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7261-8377)
- Dahe Qin
Institutions
- Polar Research Institute of China (CN)
- Tianjin University (CN)
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Beijing Normal University (CN)
- Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (CN)
- Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement (FR)
- Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences (CN)
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research
- East China Normal University (CN)
- Université Grenoble Alpes (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Geophysical Research Letters
- Published
- 2025-02-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1029/2024gl112649
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Mercury impact and mitigation studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.60
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- National Key Research and Development Program of China