Mercury mass balance for Big Dam West Lake, Kejimkujik Park, Nova Scotia: xamining the role of volatilization

摘要

In the present study we will examine the known mercury flux pathways to determine the relative magnitude of each and potential errors associated with each of the estimates. In this way we can identify significant pathways previously overlooked. Specifically, here we focus on the relative importance of volatilization from the surface of the lake to the atmosphere in Big Dam West Lake (Kejimkujik Park, Nova Scotia). The magnitude of volatilization was found to be approximately double the direct wet deposition over the lake and adjacent wetlands, and 27 percent direct wet deposition to the terrestrial portion of the catchment. Over the entire catchment area the average mass of mercury volatilized is 46 percent mass deposited by wet deposition.