Mercury Concentrations in Stream and River Water: An Analytical Framework Applied to Minnesota and Wisconsin (USA)

摘要: The total concentration of all mercuryspecies in water, [THg]w, is a key water qualitymeasure. This paper proposes an analytical framework forthe analysis, interpretation and eventual projection ofstream (and river) [THg]w. Mercury (Hg) isconceptualized as being distributed among four carriergroups water: suspended mineral particles, particulateorganic carbon, dissolved organic inorganiccomplexes ions. conceptual understanding used asa statistical turned into aquantitative model for Minnesota Wisconsin based on some1000 data cases from 18 streams (watershed area: 9 ha–115500km2). resultant yields coefficient ofdetermination 92% [THg]w the fitting datasubset, or 94% evaluation subset. Its coefficientshave well defined physical meanings, are generallyconsistent with independent field measurements sameregion elsewhere. provides comprehensive andquantitative view Hg contents carriers: thecontents increase proportion watershed area aswetlands forests, rise drastically then fallprecipitously during spring snowmelt, otherwise peak inthe growing season reach minimum presence ofsnowpack. further reveals that tendsto emission-related wet sulfate depositionacross region.