Dataset: Total Mercury Time Series at Scripps Pier

Name: Total Mercury Concentrations Collected from Scripps Pier in La Jolla, CA from December 2020 to December 2024
Published: 2025-02-04
Keywords: Mercury, Coastal, oceans

View Data: Data not available yet

Cite This Dataset

Spatial Extent: N:32.8634 E:-117.2546 S:32.8634 W:-117.2546

Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier in La Jolla, CA (32.8634 N, 117.2546 W)

Temporal Extent: 2020-12-04 - 2024-12-04

Project:

Collaborative Proposal: Unravelling the Oceanic Dimethylmercury Cycle (DMHg in the Ocean)

Principal Investigator:

Amina T. Schartup (University of California-San Diego Scripps, UCSD-SIO)

Co-Principal Investigator:

Carl Lamborg (University of California-Santa Cruz, UCSC)

Student:

Hannah M. Adams (University of California-San Diego Scripps, UCSD-SIO)

Contact:

Hannah M. Adams (University of California-San Diego Scripps, UCSD-SIO)

BCO-DMO Data Manager:

Karen Soenen (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI BCO-DMO)

Version:

Version Date:

2025-02-04

Restricted:

Validated:

Yes

Current State:

Final no updates expected

Total Mercury Concentrations Collected from Scripps Pier in La Jolla, CA from December 2020 to December 2024

Abstract:

weekly collected samples of Total Mercury from Scripps Pier in La Jolla, CA from December 2020 to December 2024 to capture variability over multiple years. Samples were collected using a peristaltic pump equipped with weighted sample tubing into pre-cleaned glass bottles. Samples were analyzed via a Tekran 2600 Automatic Mercury Sampler.

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Methods & Sampling

Weekly sampling was conducted between December 2020 and November 2024 at the Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier (Scripps Pier) in La Jolla, CA (32.8634 °N, 117.2546 °W). Total Hg (THg) and total methylated Hg (MeHg; not shown) were sampled at depths of < 0.5 m and 6 m using a peristaltic pump equipped with weighted sample tubing. Seawater was pumped into clean borosilicate glass bottles (I-Chem) and returned to the lab. MeHg and THg samples were acidified with 0.4% hydrochloric acid (HCl; Trace Metal Grade, J.T. Baker), and stored at 4°C until analysis within 6 months.

Data Processing Description

THg concentrations were measured following U.S. EPA Method 1631e (Lambourg et al., 2012). 30 mL samples were amended by bromine monochloride oxidation, hydroxylamine and tin (II) chloride reduction, and purged onto gold traps followed by cold-vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CV-AFS) using a Tekran 2600 Automated Hg Analyzer. Calibration was based on an aqueous 1000 ppm mercuric chloride (HgCl2) standard (SPEX Certiprep®) and confirmed with a second 1000 ppm HgCl2 standard (Alfa Aesar). To validate concentrations, we analyzed the certified reference material ORMS-3 (National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Canada) with a certified value of 12.6 ± 1.1 ng L-1 (Yang et al., 2005). We determined ORMS-3 concentrations to be 14.8 ± 2.44 ng L-1 (n = 12). The detection limit was 0.17 pM (n = 75 reagent blanks) with ongoing precision and recovery of 101 ± 6% (n = 73). Average replicate precision was 6% (n = 130), and matrix spike recovery was 93 ± 12% (n = 36).

BCO-DMO Processing

* Added lat/lon to dataset
* Added ISO_DateTime to dataset
* Converted numberic citation style to author citation style

More Information about this dataset

Funding Sources

Funding Source	Award Number
NSF Division of Ocean Sciences	OCE-2023046

Deployments

None available yet

Instruments

Tekran 2600 Automated Total Mercury Analyzer series

Supplied Name:

Supplied Description:

cold-vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CV-AFS) using a Tekran 2600 Automated Hg Analyzer.

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Tekran 2600 Automated Total Mercury Analyzer series

Acronym: Tekran 2600

Generic Description:

The Tekran 2600 is a total Mercury (Hg) analysis system that can measure sub-picogram quantities of mercury in water, soil, vegetation, and other sample matrices. The system utilizes a Cold Vapour Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy (CVAFS) detector. The 2600-IVS (In-Vial Sparging) model is reconfigured for direct in-vial sparging sample introduction, and the 2600-NG (Natural Gas) model is designed for the analysis of gas phase sample cartridges. The system is capable of multiple method configurations: Dual stage gold preconcentration (EPA Method 1631); Direct measurement without preconcentration (EPA Method 245.7); Air sample analysis on gold traps (EPA Compendium Method IO-5); and Natural gas analysis on gold traps (ASTM D-6350, ISO 6978). It has a guaranteed minimum detection limit of < 0.05 nanograms per liter (ng/L). In clean room environments, with low mercury blanks, minimum detection limits as low as 0.02 ng/L are achievable.

See: https://www.tekran.com/products/laboratory/tekran-model-2600-automated-total-mercury-analysis-system/

Parameters

Date and time formats are described in python strftime() syntax.

Supplied Name	Supplied description	Supplied Units	Standard Name
Latitude	Sampling latitude, south is negative	decimal degrees	lat
Longitude	Sampling longitude, west is negative	decimal degrees	lon
Date	Date in format YYYY-MM-DD Format: %Y-%m-%d	unitless	date
Time_UTC	UTC time of sampling Format: %H:%M	unitless	time
ISO_DateTime_UTC	Sampling DateTime in ISO format (UTC Timezone) Format: %Y-%m-%dT%H:%MZ	units	ISO_DateTime_UTC
Surface_THg_Concentration	Concentration of total mercury in the surface ( < 0.5 m) sample, DL = 0.17 pM	picomolar (pM)	total_Hg
Deep_THg_Concentration	Concentration of total mercury in the deep sample, DL = 0.17 pM	picomolar (pM)	total_Hg
Deep_Sample_Depth	Depth of sampling the "deep" sample	meters (m)	depth

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Dataset: Total Mercury Time Series at Scripps Pier