Update to the Nevada Mercury Flux Monitoring Intercomparison

Follow Up Meeting

Noteworthy Observations, Conclusions and Ponderings

1. It was observed that the meteorological techniques, in general, yielded substantially higher calculated flux values than did the chamber methods. Subsequent research revealed that increasing the flow rates through flux chambers resulted in less elevation of mercury levels within the chamber and yielded flux values that agreed more closely with meteorological methods. (Elevated levels within the chamber slowed further mercury emissions from the soil.) As a result, it is becoming standard practise to use higher flow rates when measuring fluxes using chamber methods.
   
2. It rains in the desert. When it rains, the enriched soils at Steamboat Springs emit very large amounts of mercury. Possible mechanisms are discussed in the literature.
   
3. While conducting the study, all of the participating groups, except for two, used at least one Tekran Model 2537A mercury vapour analyzer. Since the study, the two remaining groups purchased their own Tekran analyzers. Readers are free to draw their own conclusions.
   

Results Published