Estimation and mapping of wet and dry mercury deposition across northeastern North America.

Whereas many ecosystem characteristics and processes influence mercury accumulation in higher trophic-level organisms, the mercury flux from the atmosphere to a lake and its watershed is a likely factor in potential risk to biota. Atmospheric deposition clearly affects mercury accumulation in soils and lake sediments. Thus, knowledge of spatial patterns in atmospheric deposition may provide information for assessing the relative risk for ecosystems to exhibit excessive biotic mercury contamination.

Patterns of mercury deposition and concentration in northeastern North America (1996-2002).

Data from 13 National Atmospheric Deposition Program Mercury Monitor Network (NADP/ MDN) monitoring stations (1996-2002) and the Underhill (VT) event-based monitoring site (1993-2002) were evaluated for spatial and temporal trends. More precipitation and mercury deposition occurred in the southern and coastal MDN sites, except for the Underhill site, which received more mercury deposition than surrounding sites. Precipitation patterns varied.