Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #34: Mercury Processes and Fate in the Canadian Low Arctic in connection with Long Range Transport from Eurasia.  (HgCanEurasia)

Outline
Atmospheric ozone and mercury depletion events (MDEs) were recently discovered in the high Arctic region during Polar Sunrise Experiments and in the Low Arctic region. It is accepted that catalytic cycles involving Br/BrO are responsible for the majority of observed ozone losses. Recent theoretical and laboratory studies suggest that Br atoms are the major oxidant for Hg0. A recent modelling study by Calvert and Lindberg (2003) discusses several possible reaction pathways. Br/Cl + O3  ClO/BrO + O2 (1) BrO/ClO + Hg°  HgO + Br•/Cl• (2) and/or Hg° + 2Br•/Cl•  HgBr2/HgCl2 (3) BrO columns are observed over the Hudson Bay area and parts of the Canadian Arctic (Richter et al., 1998). Satellite observations from the Global Ozone Monitoring Eperiment (GOME) showed that tropospheric air masses enriched in BrO are always located close to sea ice and typically extend over areas of up to 1.4x107 km2 (Wagner and Platt, 1998). The BrO abundance remains enhanced for periods of 1 to 3 d, especially in late winter and springtime (Richter et al., 1998; Wagner and Platt, 1998). Mercury long range transport modelling showed that a substantial amount of mercury is transported from Eurasia to Canadian Artic in wintertime. This massive mercury burden enters in the Canadian Arctic during the Mercury Depletion Events season (February-April) leading to a potential risk to the fragile Arctic Environnement. The research project consist: i) to measure atmospheric Hg speciation species (Hg° and Hg(II) in two sites in Eurasia (China Jilin Province and French Alps) in connection with measurements in the Low Arctic region along the Hudson Bay (Kuujjuarapik) in 2007-2008. ii) to study the source/receptor relationships for atmospheric Hg species collected at the three sites and address their respective and common airsheds using the potential source contribution function (Hopke et al., 1990) based on back trajectories modelling. Potential sources of atmospheric mercury to the Low Arctic will be apportioned. iii) to measure Hg species deposition and volatilisation in MDEs season to assess the mercury net loading; iv) to measure mercury form (inorganic and organic) concentration and their retention time in various Arctic reservoir (Soil, water, biota, snow) and assess their potential risk to the environment. v) to study the mercury methylation processes in function of Arctic microbiology and chemistry in snow.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
1. Status: to determine the present environmental status of the polar regions: This project will permit to better know the fate of mercury in low Arctic region. To know how important is the man-made impact on the mercury issue in the Arctic. 2. Change: to quantify, and understand, past and present natural environmental and social change in the polar regions; and to improve projections of future change: This project will permit to know if international initiatives for mercury control will further protect the Canadian Artic. 3. Global linkages: to advance our understanding on all scales of the links and interactions between polar regions and the rest of the globe, and of the processes controlling these : This project will link three airsheds in regards to mercury and address the following question: Is Arctic region a net sink of mercury? 4. New Frontiers: to investigate the frontiers of science in the polar regions: Many new sciences will emerge from this research.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The project will be completed with collaborations from: China : Dr.Xinbin Feng State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry Institute of Geochemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Guiyang 550002 PR China France : Dr Christophe Ferrari, Université de Grenoble, Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l’Environnement UMR 5183 (LGGE), 54 rue Molière, BP 96, 38402 Saint-Martin d’Hères Cedex,

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Canada: Project will be achieved in Kuujjuarapik (Québec)- France: Project will be achieve in French Alps in the region of Mont-Blanc China: Project will be achieved in eastern part of China, such as Jilin Province.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 01/08 – 05/08            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The Hg species measurements in the various sites (Canada, France and China) will used existent facilities such as research centre laboratory (e.g., Centre d’étude nordique (CEN) - U. Laval), meteorological observatory in China and research station in the French Alps. The main requested will be for material transport to the sites, subsistence support for research team (3 people for 5 months). The funding request : 450 000 $Can to purchase three Hg speciation units; 50 000$Can for operation and maintenance. 30 000 $Can for graduate salary Total: 530 000$Can

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Yes, the three new Hg speciation units will be leave to China, France and Canada for further mercury research.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

Support from the research institute in France and China, included maintenance, meteorological data.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This pre-proposal has been reviewed and is being submitted by the Canadian Steering Committee (CSC). Ongoing discussions will integrate this pre-proposal into a larger network of related national and international initiatives. The CSC has initially sorted this pre-proposal into: THEME: Education, Outreach & Communication SUB-THEME: Changing chemistry in polar regions: Processes controlling the pathways of contaminants into the Arctic

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?


It is a new autonomous proposal. However, this project will support and complement some on going initiatives (e.g., Arcticnet – theme 2.6; Hg species measurements have been taken in 2003 in French Alps (as preliminary work); some discussion on Hg species measurements in China are established.) .

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be self-managed as a team work involving PI and Co-PI. Budget will be share within the participants. Most of the operation and maintenance will be used for the intensive filed work in Kuujjuarapik. This funding will cover graduate salary and field works.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
It is planned that there is a clear plan for Education, Outreach and Communication (EOC) activities in the full proposal for the June 2005 deadline. Initial ideas for EOC are : scientific paper and report production; series of seminars in various scientific organisation; series of seminar in Arctic communities;

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data management will be in concert and agreement of the various participants (Universities and national organisations). Data access agreement will be prepared and signed by all parties. Data may be available for national data base (e.g., Natchem).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The total funding request for this project will be primarily obtained through national (Canadian) funding agencies but in some cases will involve international funding agencies (e.g. European Union and China).

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Dr Poissant is in collaboration with ArcticNet and have already many years of collaboration with the Centre d’étude Nordique. Many intensive research campaigns have been undertaken with French, English and German researchers in Kuujjuarapik. This project will strengthen the various national and international initiatives.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Laurier Poissant
Meteorological Service of Canada
105 McGill,
Montréal
H2Y 2E7
Canada

Tel: 514-283-1140
Mobile: no
Fax: 514-283-8869
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation