Also shown are the global radiation and the soil temperature. Note that the highest concentrations are observed at first light yet the soil temperature is near minimum. These figures show the increase in mercury flux measured with increasing global radiation but no change in soil temperature at the Steamboat Springs Geothermal Area, Nevada. Accomplishments and Research Results . Significant research results are presented in the discussion above.
Cinnabar is the primary mercury mineral found in enriched substrate.
If it is constantly breaking down to form Hg o , this mercury would migrate to the soil surface where it would adsorb to electrostatically charged mineral grains as well as to organic matter. Incident light on the soil surface could cause Hg o to vaporize and move away from the soil surface just like the evaporation of water. This surface layer would constantly be recharged by mercury vapor moving upward towards the soil air interface. The oxidation of Hg o or weathering of Hg minerals result in the production of photo reactive species. Not only is this project developing data on the mechanisms responsible for the light enhancement of mercury emissions from substrate, but the data developed in this project are helping to build our database on the emissions of mercury from diffuse sources and furthering our understanding of parameters controlling Hg fluxes.