Cloud water and throughfall deposition of mercury and trace elements in a high elevation spruce-fir forest at Mt Mansfield, Vermont

Lawson, ST; Scherbatskoy, TD; Malcolm, EG; Keeler, GJ

HERO ID

89371

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2003

PMID

12948231

HERO ID 89371
In Press No
Year 2003
Title Cloud water and throughfall deposition of mercury and trace elements in a high elevation spruce-fir forest at Mt Mansfield, Vermont
Authors Lawson, ST; Scherbatskoy, TD; Malcolm, EG; Keeler, GJ
Journal Journal of Environmental Monitoring
Volume 5
Issue 4
Page Numbers 578-583
Abstract As part of the Lake Champlain Basin watershed study of mercury (Hg) and pollutant deposition, cloud water and cloud throughfall collections were conducted at the south summit (1204 m) of Mt. Mansfield, Vermont between August 1 and October 31, 1998, for multi-element chemical analysis. A passive Teflon string collector was deployed during non-precipitating events to sample cloud/fog water at timberline, while three sets of paired funnels collected cloud throughfall under the red spruce-balsam fir canopy. Samples were analyzed for concentrations of Hg, major ions, and 10 trace elements. Ultra-clean sampling and analysis techniques were utilized throughout the study. Six events were sampled for cloud water alone and four events were sampled for both cloud water and cloud throughfall. Cloud throughfall chemistry showed substantial modification from incident cloud water. Much higher concentrations of Hg (2.3 x), base cations (Ca2+, K-, Mg2+; 3-18 x) and certain trace elements (Ni, Cu, Mn, Rb, Sr; 2-34 x) were observed in throughfall than in cloud water. These results confirm that cloud water can leach a wide variety of elements from tree foliage and wash off dry deposited elements. Cloud water deposited an average of 0.42 +/- 0.12 mm of water per hour. Estimated cloud water deposition of Hg was 7.4 microg m(-2) for the period August 1-October 31, approximately twice that deposited by rain during this period at a nearby low elevation Hg monitoring site. Our results indicate that cloud water and Hg deposition at Mt. Mansfield are likely to have considerable ecological effects.
Doi 10.1039/b210125d
Pmid 12948231
Wosid WOS:000184843700013
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments ECRIB.J. Environ. Monit. 5: 578-583.
Is Public Yes
Is Qa No
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