Development of a global ocean mercury model with a methylation cycle: Outstanding issues

Abstract

We present a newly developed global ocean mercury (Hg) transport and biogeochemistry model and use preanthropogenic equilibrium simulations to highlight physical and chemical processes which reveal significant knowledge gaps that need to be addressed. As with previous 3‐D ocean Hg model work we use a bulk chemistry scheme based on particulate organic carbon remineralization. We also include an explicit methylation cycle based on available reaction rates. The methylation to demethylation rate ratio based on various field studies is found to be inconsistent with the concentration ratios measured in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica and in the Arctic. There is also model‐measurement disagreement in the old waters of the tropical and North Pacific Ocean. The model produces an intermediate water maximum in total Hg in this region reflecting the higher age of water which is absent in observations. The model also underestimates total Hg concentrations in the deepest waters in this region. These disagreements in depth profile shape point to an inadequate representation of scavenging and sedimentation and possibly seabed emission or remobilization of Hg. In addition, the total Hg distribution differences compared to previous model work reflect sensitivity to ocean model transport characteristics and in particular the tracer diffusion. The residence time of Hg in the global ocean and the surface evasion flux of elemental Hg is sensitive to such model aspects. We find a global ocean Hg turnover time against sediment burial to be about 1100 years which is within the range of previous studies.