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Study: Permafrost Stores a Globally Significant Amount of Mercury Citation: Schuster, Paul F.; Schaefer, Kevin M.; Aiken, George R.; Antweiler, Ronald C.; Dewi
by randomdrake 9y ago
Study: Permafrost Stores a Globally Significant Amount of Mercury
Citation: Schuster, Paul F.; Schaefer, Kevin M.; Aiken, George R.; Antweiler, Ronald C.; Dewild, John F.; Gryziec, Joshua D.; Gusmeroli, Alessio; Hugelius, Gustaf; Jafarov, Elchin; Krabbenhoft, David P.; Liu, Lin; Herman-Mercer, Nicole; Mu, Cuicui; Roth, David A.; Schaefer, Tim; Striegl, Robert G.; Wickland, Kimberly P.; Zhang, Tingjun. Geophysical Research Letters, 45.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL075571 https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL075571
DOI: 10.1002/2017GL075571
Abstract: Changing climate in northern regions is causing permafrost to thaw with major implications for the global mercury (Hg) cycle. We estimated Hg in permafrost regions based on in situ measurements of sediment total mercury (STHg), soil organic carbon (SOC), and the Hg to carbon ratio (RHgC) combined with maps of soil carbon. We measured a median STHg of 43 ± 30 ng Hg g soil−1 and a median RHgC of 1.6 ± 0.9 μg Hg g C−1, consistent with published results of STHg for tundra soils and 11,000 measurements from 4,926 temperate, nonpermafrost sites in North America and Eurasia. We estimate that the Northern Hemisphere permafrost regions contain 1,656 ± 962 Gg Hg, of which 793 ± 461 Gg Hg is frozen in permafrost. Permafrost soils store nearly twice as much Hg as all other soils, the ocean, and the atmosphere combined, and this Hg is vulnerable to release as permafrost thaws over the next century. Existing estimates greatly underestimate Hg in permafrost soils, indicating a need to reevaluate the role of the Arctic regions in the global Hg cycle.
- dang 9y agoIt's fine to post links to the relevant paper, but could you please stop pasting bibliographic boilerplate into HN threads? I'm sure your intention is good, but the purpose of HN threads is thoughtful conversation, and this is not that.
- solutron 9y agoBibliographic info along with an abstract are an excellent way to help contextualize a thoughtful conversation, and does so without diverting attention away from the main thread.
- dang 9y agoI'm afraid I don't agree, for the same reason that no one would read all that stuff out loud in a normal conversation. This information is easy to get for anyone who wants it, particularly if someone has posted a link to it. There's no need to inline the content.
- Chris2048 9y agoHow does a full citation list help with context?
- randomdrake 9y agoSure. Thoughtful conversation and adding to it is definitely part of the intention; not trying to be a bother. Happy to adjust and try to keep contributing if you could be so kind as to let me know what would be preferred instead of a citation like this.
- dizzystar 9y agoI think the poster was irritated with the long citation list and other extraneous items. Just share a link and a part of the abstract, or do a summary.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- dang 9y agoA link to the paper is fine. If you have a thought you want to share about it that's even finer. p.s. We really do appreciate the intent.
- jstewartmobile 9y agoYou saved me the trouble of scrounging for the PDF link in the article, so thank you. BTW, good job on your blog randomdrake!
- propman 9y agoI have no knowledge about how accurate measurements of mercury are but from this and the article, it seems pretty conclusive that there is a lot of it with potentially very dangerous outcomes. I guess we can add another one to the list of dangers associated with climate change. Also how important funding is for projects. I just recently read about iron fertilization as a potential tool to fight climate change, can't believe I'd never read about it before. Potential downsides but still very interesting, especially if economical. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_fertilization https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_fertilization I strayed far away from the research side of things back in school, but I wish we had more bold disrupters or shapers in the field. I know it's antithetical to the personality, skills, structure, and honestly the traits to succeed in the field but someone who'd be bold, sway the media, public opinion and congress with visions for deep funding and just dive in and trailblaze and get stuff done instead of so much research. I dont keep up with the field and Im sure this is extremely naive but just my thoughts.