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Methylmercury Export From a Headwater Peatland Catchment Decreased With Cleaner Emissions Despite Opposing Effect of Climate Warming.

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Title: Methylmercury Export From a Headwater Peatland Catchment Decreased With Cleaner Emissions Despite Opposing Effect of Climate Warming.
Authors: McCarter, C. P. R.1 (AUTHOR) colinmcc@nipissingu.ca, Sebestyen, S. D.2 (AUTHOR), Jeremiason, J. D.3 (AUTHOR), Nater, E. A.4 (AUTHOR), Kolka, R. K.2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Water Resources Research. Feb2024, Vol. 60 Issue 2, p1-17. 17p.
Subjects: Global warming, Methylmercury, Atmospheric mercury, Atmospheric temperature, Peatland restoration, Atmospheric deposition, Water table
Geographic Terms: Minnesota
Abstract: Peatlands are sources of bioaccumulating neurotoxin methylmercury (MeHg) that is linked to adverse health outcomes. Yet, the compounding impacts of climate change and reductions in atmospheric pollutants on mercury (Hg) export from peatlands are highly uncertain. We investigated the response in annual flow‐weighted concentrations (FWC) and yields of total‐Hg (THg) and MeHg to cleaner air and climate change using an unprecedented hydroclimatic (55‐year; streamflow, air temperature, precipitation, and peatland water tables), depositional chemistry (21‐year; Hg and major ions), and streamwater chemistry (∼17‐year; THg, MeHg, major ions, total organic carbon, and pH) data sets from a reference peatland catchment in Minnesota, USA. Over the hydroclimatic record, annual mean air temperature increased by ∼1.8°C, while baseflow and the efficiency that precipitation was converted to runoff (runoff ratio) decreased. Concurrently, precipitation‐based deposition of sulfate and Hg declined, where wet Hg deposition declined by ∼3–4 μg Hg m−2. Despite declines in wet Hg deposition over the study period, the catchment accumulated on average 0.04 ± 0.01 g Hg ha−1 yr−1 based on wet Hg deposition minus THg yield alone. Annual MeHg FWC was positively correlated with mean annual air temperatures (p = 0.03, r = 0.51), runoff ratio (p < 0.0001, r = 0.76), and wet Hg deposition concentration (p < 0.0001, r = 0.79). Decreasing wet Hg deposition and annual runoff ratios counterbalanced increased peatland MeHg production due to higher air temperatures, leading to an overall decline in streamwater MeHg FWC. Streamwater MeHg export may continue to decrease only as long as declines in runoff ratio and wet Hg deposition persistently outpace effects of increased air temperature. Plain Language Summary: Climate change and cleaner air are unequivocally altering the movement of toxic mercury and methylmercury. Using long‐term and broad environmental measurements, a stream fed by a peatland exhibited decreased methylmercury levels that correlated with lower wet mercury deposition concentration and lower net water yields from the catchment (runoff ratio), which offsets potential increases of methylmercury due to elevated air temperatures. As such, methylmercury export from peatland catchments will likely continue to decrease over time if climate change continues to accelerate the reduction of runoff ratios and atmospheric wet mercury deposition further decreases. Adaptation to future climate and environmental changes would greatly benefit from additional and longer‐integrated multidisciplinary data sets. Without such long‐term and integrated measures critical insights, such as those gained from this study, would not be possible. Key Points: Lower streamwater methylmercury concentrations and yields due to compounding effects of climate change and cleaner airLower wet atmospheric mercury deposition and runoff ratios offset higher air temperatures, resulting in lower methylmercury concentrationsHeadwater peatland catchments will continue to be net sinks of total mercury; thus, we may not see a net flushing of anthropogenic mercury [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Water Resources Research is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Methylmercury Export From a Headwater Peatland Catchment Decreased With Cleaner Emissions Despite Opposing Effect of Climate Warming.
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22McCarter%2C+C%2E+P%2E+R%2E%22&quot;&gt;McCarter, C. P. R.&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;1&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;i&gt; colinmcc@nipissingu.ca&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Sebestyen%2C+S%2E+D%2E%22&quot;&gt;Sebestyen, S. D.&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;2&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Jeremiason%2C+J%2E+D%2E%22&quot;&gt;Jeremiason, J. D.&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;3&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Nater%2C+E%2E+A%2E%22&quot;&gt;Nater, E. A.&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;4&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Kolka%2C+R%2E+K%2E%22&quot;&gt;Kolka, R. K.&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;2&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;JN&quot; term=&quot;%22Water+Resources+Research%22&quot;&gt;Water Resources Research&lt;/searchLink&gt;. Feb2024, Vol. 60 Issue 2, p1-17. 17p.
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Minnesota%22&quot;&gt;Minnesota&lt;/searchLink&gt;
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Peatlands are sources of bioaccumulating neurotoxin methylmercury (MeHg) that is linked to adverse health outcomes. Yet, the compounding impacts of climate change and reductions in atmospheric pollutants on mercury (Hg) export from peatlands are highly uncertain. We investigated the response in annual flow‐weighted concentrations (FWC) and yields of total‐Hg (THg) and MeHg to cleaner air and climate change using an unprecedented hydroclimatic (55‐year; streamflow, air temperature, precipitation, and peatland water tables), depositional chemistry (21‐year; Hg and major ions), and streamwater chemistry (∼17‐year; THg, MeHg, major ions, total organic carbon, and pH) data sets from a reference peatland catchment in Minnesota, USA. Over the hydroclimatic record, annual mean air temperature increased by ∼1.8&#176;C, while baseflow and the efficiency that precipitation was converted to runoff (runoff ratio) decreased. Concurrently, precipitation‐based deposition of sulfate and Hg declined, where wet Hg deposition declined by ∼3–4 μg Hg m−2. Despite declines in wet Hg deposition over the study period, the catchment accumulated on average 0.04 &#177; 0.01 g Hg ha−1 yr−1 based on wet Hg deposition minus THg yield alone. Annual MeHg FWC was positively correlated with mean annual air temperatures (p = 0.03, r = 0.51), runoff ratio (p &lt; 0.0001, r = 0.76), and wet Hg deposition concentration (p &lt; 0.0001, r = 0.79). Decreasing wet Hg deposition and annual runoff ratios counterbalanced increased peatland MeHg production due to higher air temperatures, leading to an overall decline in streamwater MeHg FWC. Streamwater MeHg export may continue to decrease only as long as declines in runoff ratio and wet Hg deposition persistently outpace effects of increased air temperature. Plain Language Summary: Climate change and cleaner air are unequivocally altering the movement of toxic mercury and methylmercury. Using long‐term and broad environmental measurements, a stream fed by a peatland exhibited decreased methylmercury levels that correlated with lower wet mercury deposition concentration and lower net water yields from the catchment (runoff ratio), which offsets potential increases of methylmercury due to elevated air temperatures. As such, methylmercury export from peatland catchments will likely continue to decrease over time if climate change continues to accelerate the reduction of runoff ratios and atmospheric wet mercury deposition further decreases. Adaptation to future climate and environmental changes would greatly benefit from additional and longer‐integrated multidisciplinary data sets. Without such long‐term and integrated measures critical insights, such as those gained from this study, would not be possible. Key Points: Lower streamwater methylmercury concentrations and yields due to compounding effects of climate change and cleaner airLower wet atmospheric mercury deposition and runoff ratios offset higher air temperatures, resulting in lower methylmercury concentrationsHeadwater peatland catchments will continue to be net sinks of total mercury; thus, we may not see a net flushing of anthropogenic mercury [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: &lt;i&gt;Copyright of Water Resources Research is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder&#39;s express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.&lt;/i&gt; (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1029/2023WR036513
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 17
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Global warming
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Methylmercury
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Atmospheric mercury
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Atmospheric temperature
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Peatland restoration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Atmospheric deposition
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Water table
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Minnesota
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Methylmercury Export From a Headwater Peatland Catchment Decreased With Cleaner Emissions Despite Opposing Effect of Climate Warming.
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              Text: Feb2024
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              Y: 2024
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