Atmospheric Mercury Mapping In A Cinnabar Mining Area

• A mobile differential absorption lidar system was used in conjunction with point monitors to study the spatial and temporal distribution of atomic mercury in the atmosphere around an abandoned mercury mine at Abbadia S. Salvatore, Italy. The use of the remote sensing technique allows a fast coverage of large areas both horizontally and vertically with a good temporal resolution. Concentrations exceeding 1000 ng/m3 were measured close to the distillation plant and considerably elevated values also were evident above deposits of roasted cinnabar. Vertical gradients of the mercury concentration in air were established. These showed a very pronounced decrease a few centimeters above the ground.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Miljövetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Environmental Sciences (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)