• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.585-594
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• 2000

Through an application of Micrometerorological methods, we conducted measurements of Hg fluxes from Nan-Ji-Do which is well known as one of the major local areal sources in Seoul metropolitan area during Match/April of 2000. In the course of our study, we determined the concentration gradients of total gaseous Hg(between 20 and 2000 cm heights) and combined these data with Micrometerorological components to derive is fluxes. It turned out that emission from and dry deposition to soil surfaces occurred at the ratio of 72:27 from a total of 271 hourly measurements. The validity of measured concentration gradients( or resulting fluxes) was evaluated in terms of percent gradient. Accordingly, about more than 95% of gradient data derived were statistically significant. The mean fluxes of Hg across soil-air interface, when computed using the concentrations gradients and relevant parameters, were found at 253(during emission) and -846ng/$m^2$/h(during dry deposition) The occurrences of abnormalously high exchange rates appear to be the combined effects of enormously high gradient values and high transfer coefficients. While the emissions of Hg occurred constantly during the whole study periods, the occurrences of dry deposition events were observed most intensively during very limited time periods(3/29 and 4/3). The results of our study cleary indicated that the studied area is a strong local areal source, while exhibiting great potential as a major sink simultaneously.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.223-236
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• 2001

The concentration of gaseous mercury (Hg) was measured at hourly intervals along with relevant environmental parameters from two monitoring stations (Hannam and Kwachun) in Seoul metropolitan city during September 1999 to July 2000. Irrespective of the environmental and areal differences in the two locations, the concentrations of observed Hg levels were remarkably compatible each other. The results showed that the mean Hg level in Hannam was measured to be 5.34${\pm}$3.92 ngm$^{-3}$ (N = 2576), while that of Kwachun was 5.25${\pm}$2.53 ngm$^{-3}$ (N = 1992). Using these measurement data, we inspected Hg distribution and behavior at various time scale. When the data were analyzed at 24 hr scale, the distribution patterns for the two areas were distinguished by enrichment in either night(Hannam) or day (Kwachun). The patterns for seasonal distributions were also opposing each other such as the occurrences of peak during winter (Hannam) or summer (Kwachun). In order to analyze the factors affecting Hg distributions between two sites over different time scale, we conducted both correlation and factor analysis on both all data sets and on seasonally divided data groups. Whereas Hg exhibits strong correlations with such parameters as PM (particulate matter), SO$_2$, and NO$_2$, its relationship with meteorological parameters was not significant enough in many cases. The results of factor analysis also indicated that the Hg levels are tightly associated with most pollutants, explaining the largest portions of statistical variance. According to our study, we conclude that patterns of Hg distributions can exhibit variable patterns depending on local source processes which we expect to be diverse among different areas.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.480-490
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• 2001

The soil-air exchange processes of Hg were investigated from the Hari area of Kang Hwa Island during the late March 2001. In the course of our study, we determined the concentration gradients of Hg and combined these gradient data with micrometeorological components to derive its fluxes. Results of our study indicate that the concentration levels of Hg in the study area are notably lower than those typically found in urbanized areas of Korea. However, the computed fluxes were seen to be significantly larger for relatively remote areas, reaching over 200 ng/m$^2$/hr. Comparison of environmental conditions shows that the concentrations of most pollutant species including NO$_X$ and PM were significantly higher during emission, while meteorological conditions were characterized by high temperature and low humidity. Results of correlation analysis also indicate that such pollutants as hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and PM generally exhibit strong positive correlations with Hg-related parameters during emission events, while such relationships were reversed during dry deposition events. The results of our present study suggest the possibility that the concentrations and fluxes of total gaseous Hg observed during deposition events can be influenced by the processes that are also important for the fine, rather than coarse, size fraction of particles.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2008

The objectives of this study were to measure ambient TGM concentrations in Seoul Korea, to determine the temporal variation of TGM, and to analyze the relationships among TGM, meteorological data and PM2.5 measured at the same time. Ambient TGM and PM2.5 concentrations were measured at the roof of the Graduate School of Public Health building in Seoul, Korea for the period of January to October 2004. Average TGM concentration was $3.43{\pm}1.17ng/m^3$. The average TGM was at a low concentration similar to those of background sites in other countries. The temporal variations and meteorological phenomena of TGM were not statistically significant. There was a positive link between TGM and PM2.5. It didn't indicate that reduction of $Hg^{2+}$ to Hg0 had occurred in liquid water contained in smog as in a previous study, but it shows that PM2.5 and TGM could be emitted from the same sources such as power plants and combustion engines. Also, the strong correlation between TGM and $SO_2$ concentrations indicated that the source of TGM was from fossil fuel combustions including coal combustion. Specifically, $SO_2\;and\;SO_4{^2-}$ concentrations correlated to TGM concentrations could be linked to TGM emitted from local and regional sources as well.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.169-182
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• 2007

To evaluate the possibly potent role of Asian Dust (AD) on the long range transport of Hg, statistical analyses were carried out using the hourly concentration data of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg) along with relevant environmental parameters. For the purpose of this study, Hg data were collected from Yang-Jae monitoring station in Seoul, Korea during Sept. 1997 to June 2002. During the study period, Hg concentrations in non-AD period ranged from $0.03\;to\;32.70\;ng\;m^{-3}$ with a mean $5.27{\pm}3.06\;ng\;m^{-3}$, while those in AD period from $1.79\;to\;32.60\;ng\;m^{-3}$ with a mean $5.20{\pm}3.06\;ng\;m^{-3}$. The air quality during AD were typically deteriorated by enhanced PM10 mass concentration (by $2{\sim}5$ times) compared to non-AD period, however comparison of the Hg concentration data indicates that they are not critically distinguished between events of AD and non-AD, except for the high minimum level of Hg during AD. The results of correlation and factor analysis also indicated somewhat complex patterns; in the case of AD events, Hg and $SO_{2}$ were assorted concurrently into a same factor. Evidence collected from this study thus suggests that long-range transport of Hg, if occurring, is unlikely to raise statistically Hg concentration levels such as seen during AD event. However, in nighttime of winter season, Hg concentrations are higher during AD (along with PM10 levels) than non-AD period. Although such observations suggest the effect of long range transport on the enhancement of Hg concentrations, more deliberate analysis may be required to track down the effect of such mechanism in relation with various factors including the air mass transport route.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.611-622
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• 2000

To investigate the exchange rates of mercury(Hg) across soil-air boundary, we undertook the measurements of Hg flux using gradient technique from a major waste reclamation site, Nan-Ji-Do. Based on these measurement data, we attempted to provide insights into various aspects of Hg exchange in a strongly polluted soil environment. According to our analysis, the study site turned out to be not only a major emission source area but also a major sink area. When these data were compared on hourly basis over a full day scale, large fluxes of emission and deposition centered on daytime periods relative to nighttime periods. However, when comparison of frequency with which emission or deposition occurs was made, there emerged a very contrasting pattern. While emission was dominant during nighttime periods, deposition was most favored during daytime periods. When similar comparison was made as a function of wind direction, it was noticed that there may be a major Hg source at easterly direction to bring out significant deposition of Hg in the study area. To account for the environmental conditions controlling the vertical direction of Hg exchange, we compared environmental conditions for both the whole data group and those observed from the wind direction of strong deposition events. Results of this analysis indicated that the concentrations of pollutant species varied sensitively enough to reflect the environmental conditions for each direction of exchange. When correlation analysis was applied to our data, results indicated that windspeed and ozone concentrations best reflected changes in the magnitudes of emission/deposition fluxes. The results of factor analysis also indicated the possibility that Hg emission of study area is temperature-driven process, while that of deposition is affected by a mixed effects of various factors including temperature, ozone, and non-methane HCs. If the computed emission rate is extrapolated to the whole study area we estimate that annual emission of Hg from the study area can amount to approximately 6kg.