DFG funded project: Mercury in marine shallow-water hydrothermal systems – an overlooked source of Hg in the global cycle

 


With the signing of the UNEP Minamata Convention in 2013, over 140 countries have accepted the severe impact of mercury on our environment and the fact that legislation and bans are required. The recognition and estimation of possible mercury sources is therefore an important part in science. One source of mercury, that has almost been ignored or has been assessed very diverse, are hydrothermal system.

We want to focus in this project on marine shallow-water hydrothermal (MSWHS) systems to close this data gap. We want to characterise the hydrothermal fluids and the surrounding seawater for their concentration of total mercury (T-Hg), methylmercury (MMHg) and as well the two very volatile compounds Hg(0) and dimethylmercury (DMHg). The emanating gases will be analysed for their concentration of total gaseous mercury and the sediments for total mercury concentrations. The whole data set will then be used to calculate the flux of mercury from this type of system.

Among the MSWHS intended for a field campaign are Milos Island (Greece), Panarea (Italy), Dom Joao de Castro Seamount (Azores) and Bahia Concepcion (Mexico).

 

Project leaders: Brombach and Pichler