Quantifying Mercury's Horizontal and Vertical Migration Processes in Marine Bay

Abstract

This paper quantified the horizontal and vertical migration processes of Mercury (Hg) in Jiaozhou Bay in 1989. Results showed that the horizontal absolute loss amounts of Hg were 0.005-0.080 µg L−1, and the horizontal relative loss amounts were 29.41%-89.13%. The vertical absolute dilution amounts of Hg were 0.002-0.037 µg L−1, and the horizontal relative dilution amounts were 2.85%-41.66%. The vertical absolute accumulation amounts of Hg were 0.007 µg L−1, and the vertical relative accumulation amounts were 58.33%. During the migration processes, Hg contents in both surface and bottom waters were decreasing in a certain degree during the horizontal migration process, and Hg contents were also changing during the vertical migration processes from surface waters to bottom waters. If the loss rate of Hg in surface water was relative high, the loss rate of Hg in bottom water would also be relative high, and vice versa. If Hg contents water was relative high, the vertical loss of Hg would also be relative high. In case of Hg contents water was relative low, the vertical dilution or accumulation of Hg would be relative high.