open access publication

Article, 2024

Large mercury release from the Greenland Ice Sheet invalidated

Science Advances, ISSN 2375-2548, Volume 10, 4, Page eadi7760, 10.1126/sciadv.adi7760

Contributors

Jørgensen, Christian Juncher 0000-0002-5184-7063 [1] Søndergaard, Jens 0000-0001-7680-9920 [1] Larsen, Martin Mørk 0000-0003-4331-8548 [1] Kjeldsen, Kristian Kjellerup 0000-0002-8557-5131 [2] [3] Rosa, Diogo Raeymaekers Namorado 0000-0003-0160-5215 [2] [3] Sapper, Sarah Elise [4] Heimbürger-Boavida, Lars-Eric 0000-0003-0632-5183 [5] Kohler, Stephen Gustav 0000-0001-8705-4850 [6] Wang, Feiyue F 0000-0001-5297-0859 [7] Gao, Zhiyuan [7] Armstrong, Debbie A [7] Albers, Christian Nyrop 0000-0001-7253-3509 [2] [3]

Affiliations

  1. [1] Aarhus University
    2. [NORA names: AU Aarhus University; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  2. [2] Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland
    3. [NORA names: GEUS Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland; Governmental Institutions; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  3. [3] Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Copenhagen 1350, Denmark.
    4. [NORA names: Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  4. [4] University of Copenhagen
    5. [NORA names: KU University of Copenhagen; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  5. [5] Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography
    6. [NORA names: France; Europe, EU; OECD];

Abstract

The major input of mercury (Hg) to the Arctic is normally ascribed to long-range transport of anthropogenic Hg emissions. Recently, alarming concentrations of Hg in meltwater from the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) were reported with bedrock as the proposed source. Reported Hg concentrations were 100 to 1000 times higher than in known freshwater systems of Greenland, calling for independent validation of the extraordinary concentrations and conclusions. Here, we present measurements of Hg at 21 glacial outlets in West Greenland showing that extreme Hg concentrations cannot be reproduced. In contrast, we find that meltwater from below the GrIS is very low in Hg, has minor implications for the global Hg budget, and pose only a very limited risk for local communities and the natural environment of Greenland.

Keywords

Arctic, GrIS, Greenland, Greenland ice sheet, Hg budget, Hg concentrations, Hg emissions, West, West Greenland, anthropogenic Hg emissions, bedrock, budget, community, concentration, concentrations of Hg, conclusions, emission, freshwater, freshwater systems, glacial, glacial outlets, global Hg budget, ice sheet, independent validation, input, inputs of mercury, local communities, measurements, measurements of Hg, meltwater, mercury, mercury release, natural environment, outlet, release, report Hg concentrations, risk, sheet, source, transport, validity

Data Provider: Digital Science

LINKS
-

Matching Records in NORA

SUBJECTS
+

METRICS
+