NOAA’s Atmospheric Mercury Monitoring in the Gulf of Mexico Region

[April 2007 summary]

This summary is updated periodically, and the current version is posted (in PowerPoint and PDF formats) at:

http://www.arl.noaa.gov/data/web/reports/cohen/grand_bay_atmos_hg.ppthttp://www.arl.noaa.gov/data/web/reports/cohen/grand_bay_atmos_hg.pdf

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Assemble a long-term, publicly available data record

Discern trends in atmospheric mercury concentrations

Derive dry deposition estimates

Elucidate mercury source-receptor relationships

Establish correlations with meteorology and ancillary trace species to better understand the emission, transport, transformations, and fate of mercury in the atmosphere

Provide a data set for model evaluation

In September 2006, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) and the Grand Bay NERR established a long-term atmospheric monitoring station for the measurement of speciated mercury compounds and ancillary trace species at the Grand Bay (Mississippi) National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) in Moss Point, MS.

The measurements are designed to:

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Grand Bay Estuarine Research Reserve

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November 2006: Update –Grand Bay NERR

• Ancillary trace measurements added October 20, 2006:CO, O3, SO2

• Site operator selected and given initial training, SOP guidelines and instructions, Instrument status forms, etc.

• Scaffold Tower added Oct. 20, 2006Current height of Inlet: 4 m

• Will add dedicated Met system and new CO detector Dec. 2006

• Discussions proceeding on renovation of Pavilion site, addition of tilt-down tower, Internet communications, etc.

• Will establish MDN measurements FY2007

• Equipment procurement:SO2, Trailer improvements/replacement, Internet, etc.

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Recent Upgrades to Grand Bay NERR Site:Recent Upgrades to Grand Bay NERR Site:Feb. 27-March 1, 2007Feb. 27-March 1, 2007

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Added:Added:

• Meteorological measurementsMeteorological measurements (T, RH, WS, WD, Solar, (T, RH, WS, WD, Solar, Precip Rate/Amount)Precip Rate/Amount)

• Upgraded CO DetectorUpgraded CO Detector Run side-by-side with Run side-by-side with original instrument fororiginal instrument for QA, continuity of QA, continuity of measurementsmeasurements

• New data acquisition New data acquisition software for CO, Osoftware for CO, O33, Met, Met

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MeasurementMeasurement TypeType Start DateStart Date

Elemental mercuryElemental mercury AA Sept 2006Sept 2006

Fine particulate mercuryFine particulate mercury AA Sept 2006Sept 2006

Reactive gaseous mercuryReactive gaseous mercury AA Sept 2006Sept 2006

Sulfur dioxideSulfur dioxide AA Oct 2006Oct 2006

OzoneOzone AA Oct 2006Oct 2006

Carbon MonoxideCarbon Monoxide AA Oct 2006Oct 2006

Nitrogen Oxides (NO, NOy)Nitrogen Oxides (NO, NOy) AA **

Wind speedWind speed CC Feb 2007Feb 2007

Wind DirectionWind Direction CC Feb 2007Feb 2007

Relative HumidityRelative Humidity CC Feb 2007Feb 2007

TemperatureTemperature CC Feb 2007Feb 2007

PrecipitationPrecipitation CC Feb 2007Feb 2007

Total mercury in precipitationTotal mercury in precipitation BB **

Major ions in precipitationMajor ions in precipitation BB **

Type of Measurement: A = concentration in ambient airB = concentration in precipitationC = meteorological parameter

April 2007: Status of Atmospheric MeasurementsApril 2007: Status of Atmospheric Measurements at Grand Bay NERR, Mississippiat Grand Bay NERR, Mississippi

* to be established

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Planned Activities at Grand Bay NERR Site:Planned Activities at Grand Bay NERR Site:April 30-May 3, 2007April 30-May 3, 2007

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• Remove old CO detectorRemove old CO detector (has been running side by (has been running side by side with new instrument side with new instrument for the last month)for the last month)

• Add freshly calibrated OAdd freshly calibrated O33 detector to run side by sidedetector to run side by side with current Owith current O33 detector for detector for about a month –QAabout a month –QA

• Tekran maintenance, filterTekran maintenance, filter and glassware changes as and glassware changes as neededneeded

• Replace a/c unit in trailerReplace a/c unit in trailer

• Meet with contractors –fence,Meet with contractors –fence, power, etc.power, etc.

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Update on Planned Future ActivitiesUpdate on Planned Future Activities

• Initial cost estimate to extend roofline of Pavilion and addInitial cost estimate to extend roofline of Pavilion and add a secured private enclosure was almost $30Ka secured private enclosure was almost $30K

• The new plan is to simply constructThe new plan is to simply construct a wooden privacy fence near the a wooden privacy fence near the Pavilion, to hide and protect thePavilion, to hide and protect the trailer and monitoring equipmenttrailer and monitoring equipment and to restrict access to a plannedand to restrict access to a planned walk-up sampling scaffold (10m) walk-up sampling scaffold (10m)

• Procurement requestProcurement request for trailer will befor trailer will be submitted in thesubmitted in the coming days.coming days.

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Update on Planned Future ActivitiesUpdate on Planned Future Activities ContinuedContinued

Other activities planned for FY2007:Other activities planned for FY2007:

• Addition of MDN collector, NO/NOAddition of MDN collector, NO/NOYY analyzer analyzer

• Purchase and installation of new, upgraded trailerPurchase and installation of new, upgraded trailer

• Possible upgrade of SOPossible upgrade of SO22 detector (subject to availability detector (subject to availability of funds)of funds)

• Installation of second Tekran system to allow forInstallation of second Tekran system to allow for evaluation of QA/QC protocols, and to provide aevaluation of QA/QC protocols, and to provide a continuous data stream.continuous data stream.

• Pavilion site upgrades as discussed above, including powerPavilion site upgrades as discussed above, including power and internet accessand internet access

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NOAA

SEARCH

USGS

UWF/FSU

MDN

Monitoring Site

coal-fired power plant

waste incinerator

manufacturing

metallurgical

other fuel combustion

type of mercuryemissions source

total atmosphericmercury emissions (kg/yr, 1999 EPA NEI)

50 - 100

100 - 200

200 - 400

1 – 50

Barry

Holcim Cement

NOAA Grand Bay NERR Hg site

WeeksBay

OLF

Molino

Pace

Ellyson

Jack Watson

AL24

AL02

Crist

Pascagoula MSW incin

haz waste incin

paper manufpaper manuf

Victor J. Daniel

Location of the new NOAA Grand Bay NERR Atmospheric Mercury monitoring site, other atmospheric Hg monitoring sites, and major Hg point sources in the region (according to the EPA 1999 NEI emissions inventory)

MobileBay

Mobile

Pascagoula

Mississippi Alabama

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NOAA

SEARCH

USGS

UWF/FSU

MDN

Monitoring Site

coal-fired power plant

waste incinerator

manufacturing

metallurgical

other fuel combustion

type of mercuryemissions source

Holcim Cement

NOAA Grand Bay NERR Hg site

AL24

AL02

Pascagoula MSW incin

haz waste incin

paper manuf

paper manuf

Victor J. Daniel

Location of the new NOAA Grand Bay NERR Atmospheric Mercury monitoring site, other atmospheric Hg monitoring sites, and major Hg point sources in the region (according to the EPA 1999 NEI emissions inventory)

WeeksBay

Barry

Jack Watsontotal atmosphericmercury emissions (kg/yr, 1999 EPA NEI)

50 - 100

100 - 200

200 - 400

1 – 50

MobileBay

Mobile, AL

Pascagoula, MS

Mississippi

Alabama

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10 km

Pascagoula MSW Incinerator

Pascagoula, MS

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1 km

30.4294, -88.4277

30.412, -88.404

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Oct 2006 pictures of initial monitoring site

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pavilion at Grand Bay NERR

View looking south and west from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pavilion at Grand Bay NERR

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Pictures of planned (eventual) monitoring site

View looking east from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pavilion at Grand Bay NERR

Mercury at Grand Bay NERR -2007

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45Julian Decimal Day (2007)

Hg

(0)

(ng

m-3

)

Hg(0)

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Mercury at Grand Bay NERR -2007

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45Julian Decimal Day (2007)

RG

M (

pg

m-3

)

RGM

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Mercury at Grand Bay NERR -2007

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45Julian Decimal Day (2007)

FP

M (

pg

m-3

)

FPM

Peak 103 pg m-3 Peak 45.6 pg m-3

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For additional information on these atmospheric measurements,

please contact:

winston.luke@noaa.gov

steve.brooks@noaa.gov

mark.cohen@noaa.gov

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