Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions
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10.5194/acpd-9-24847-2009
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/24847/2009/
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/24847/2009/acpd-9-24847-2009.html
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/24847/2009/acpd-9-24847-2009.pdf
24847
24874
2009-11-19
Identification of potential regional sources of atmospheric total gaseous mercury in Windsor, Ontario, Canada using hybrid receptor modeling
X. Xu
xxu@uwindsor.ca
U. S. Akhtar
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, 401 Sunset Ave, Windsor, Windsor, N9B 3P4, Canada
now at: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E5, Canada
Windsor (Ontario) – the automotive capital of Canada does not have any
significant mercury (Hg) sources. However, Windsor experiences
trans-boundary air pollution as it is located immediately downwind of
industrialized regions of the United States of America. A study was
conducted in 2007 aimed to identify the potential regional sources of total
gaseous mercury (TGM) and investigate the effects of regional sources and
other factors on seasonal variability of TGM concentrations in Windsor.
<br><br>
TGM concentration was measured at the University of Windsor campus using a
Tekran® 2537A Hg vapour analyzer. An annual mean of
2.02±1.63 ng/m<sup>3</sup> was observed in 2007. The average TGM concentration
was high in the summer (2.48 ng/m<sup>3</sup>) and winter (2.17 ng/m<sup>3</sup>),
compared to spring (1.88 ng/m<sup>3</sup>) and fall (1.76 ng/m<sup>3</sup>). Hybrid
receptor modeling potential source contribution function (PSCF) was used by
incorporating 72-h backward trajectories and measurements of TGM in
Windsor. The results of PSCF were analyzed in conjunction with the Hg
emissions inventory of North America (by state/province) to identify regions
affecting Windsor. In addition to annual modeling, seasonal PSCF modeling
was also conducted. The potential source region was identified between
24–61° N and 51–143° W. Annual PSCF modeling identified major sources
southwest of Windsor, stretching from Ohio to Texas. The emissions inventory
also supported the findings, as Hg emissions were high in those regions.
Results of seasonal PSCF modeling were analyzed to find the combined effects
of regional sources, meteorological conditions, and surface reemissions, on
intra-annual variability of Hg concentrations. It was found that the summer and
winter highs of atmospheric Hg can be attributed to areas where large
numbers of coal fired power plants are located in the USA. Weak atmospheric
dispersion due to low winds and high reemission from surfaces due to higher
temperatures contributed to high concentrations in the summer. In the
winter, the atmospheric removal of Hg was slow, but strong winds led to more
dispersion, resulting in lower concentrations than the summer. Future
studies could use smaller grid sizes and refined emission inventories, for
more accurate analysis of source-receptor relationship of atmospheric Hg.
<br><br>
<b>Abbreviations of states/provinces:</b> Alabama (AL), Arkansas (AR), British Columbia (BC),
Georgia (GA), Iowa (IA), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA),
Manitoba (MB), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO),
Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Ohio (OH), Ontario (ON), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania
(PA), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI).
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