INL RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Science

Atmospheric and Surface Science

Research Laboratory

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NL researchers are

contributing to the

scientific understanding

of contaminant transport

through atmospheric and

surface environmental

pathways.

Atmospheric and surface

pathways account for the vast

majority of human and

ecological exposure to

anthropogenic (man-made)

releases of contaminants to

the environment. Exposure

routes range from direct

inhalation to direct contact

with residual contamination

that has built up or been

deposited on soils.

A better understanding of how

contaminants cycle through

these exposure pathways will

help decision-makers to select

and permit waste treatment

operations and help stakeholders better understand the

relative impacts of contamination sources. Understanding

contaminant cycling patterns

will also reduce statistical

uncertainties in current

exposure estimates and risk

assessment methods; and

provide a scientific basis for

developing and evaluating

national emissions control

regulations.

INL’s research is providing

information for effective

long-term stewardship of the

environment by assessing the

contribution and buildup of

past and current atmospheric

emissions to long-term public

exposures and future land use.

In addition, this research is

helping to expand INL’s

capabilities to support

national-level research

priorities in the field of

environmental pollutant fate

and transport.

Major Areas of

Research

Mercury environmental fate

and transport - INL and

other research laboratories

across the nation are conducting fundamental research on

quantifying atmospheric

mercury sources and environmental cycling to better

understand why observed

concentrations of this highly

toxic air pollutant have been

increasing globally.

Multi-variate receptor

methods to assess atmospheric transport of air

pollutants - Researchers have

characterized regional fallout

The INL participated in a USGS-led snow survey in the Wind River Range, Wyoming, collecting snow

samples at 13,000 feet to assess regional background fallout of mercury.

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INL RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

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of over 40 trace element and

common-ion air pollutant

constituents and are developing new methods to assess

medium-range transport of air

pollutants from source areas.

Current methods (air dispersion modeling and traditional

uni-variate measurement

methods) have high levels of

uncertainty, or cannot distinguish pollutant contributions

from different sources or the

background component.

Research Assets and

Capabilities

INL is located in a relatively

low background area for

mercury, and has had two

welldocumented mercury

sources in the past, making

this location an ideal setting

to study mercury sourcereceptor relationships. Also,

INL is located next door to

potentially large natural

emission sources of mercury

in the Yellowstone geothermal

region, an area that has

received little attention by the

mercury research community.

INL researchers have field

deployed a state-of-thescience Tekran® mercury

analyzer to provide continuous ultra-low measurements

of mercury air concentrations.

The system includes a

portable meteorological

station, which provides

important information on the

sources of mercury, and a

self-contained field trailer that

allows deployment of the

system to any vehicle accessible locations.

Researchers are also developing a flux measurement

system using a dynamic flux

chamber and the Tekran® to

measure re-emission of

deposited mercury from the

surface back to the atmosphere. When fully developed, the flux system may be

used in research to help

quantify non-assessed sources

of mercury such as

Yellowstone’s geothermal

areas.

Opportunities

INL welcomes the opportunity to participate in collaborative atmospheric and

surface science research with

scientists from universities,

industry, and federal agencies.

Post-doctoral fellowships and

staff positions are also

possible in the area of atmospheric chemistry, air pollutant measurement techniques,

and environmental cycling of

contaminants through surface

pathways.

Flux measurements are made to investigate the potential for

re-emission losses of historical calciner-deposited mercury (Hg) in

soils.

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Snow is a primary sampling medium because it is a very efficient

scavenger of atmospheric mercury (Hg), and because it usually

remains on the ground, allowing sampling after the precipitation

event.

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Management Contact

Gregory Stormberg

208-526-1241

Gregory.Stromberg@inl.gov

Technical Contact

Michael Abbott

208-526-8596

Michael.Abbott@inl.gov

For more information

INL is a U.S. Department of

Energy national laboratory

operated by Battelle Energy

Alliance