Fate and Transport of Mercury in the Arctic Environmental Matrices under Varying Climatic Conditions

Abstract

The Arctic region extends across northern Europe, northern Asia and northern North America. The Arctic is undergoing rapid environmental changes, and the entire world is more conscious about the current climatic fluctuations, which will affect the rest of the world by the rise in sea level, biodiversity, various climatic conditions and socio-economic aspects. Long-range transport of contaminants, along with local sources, enhanced the number of toxic metals in the Arctic environment. Surface sediment samples were collected from three shallow, summer-active freshwater lakes such as Knudsenheia, Storvatnet and Tvillingvatnet. Mercury transformation and transport in the Arctic terrestrial environment such as soil, fresh water and fjord ecosystems. The major variation occurring in the Hg cycle is the less retention time of Hg in the Arctic environment, especially in the snow and the release of deposited mercury.