[ESAC Student Seminar] Eric Roy

“One if by air, two if by sea: Quantification of diffuse mercury emissions and the oceanic ventilation of lead”

Abstract: Anthropogenic exploitation of terrestrial resources has caused a significant perturbation to the natural cycling of toxic heavy metals. The risks of heavy metal exposure have become apparent to global societies over the last fifty years, leading to the introduction of national and international policies designed to limit environmental loadings. The enactment of environmental policies necessitates a rigorous scientific basis to evaluate effectiveness and presents the opportunity for a natural experiment upon the onset of rapid emission reduction.

I will discuss preliminary results for my two general exam projects which address these two complementary aspects to environmental regulation. My primary project aims to quantify emissions of mercury (Hg) from diffuse sources using observations from Australia’s Northern Territory influenced predominantly by regional savanna fires. These observations serve to constrain an inverse modeling framework based on GEOS-Chem simulations and back trajectory modeling-based approaches to calculate updated regional biomass burning emission magnitude. My second project contributes new ocean profile measurements of lead (Pb) concentration and isotope ratios to a semi-decadal record extending back to 1979. This timeseries of profiles is then used to inform a single column model to identify physical and chemical processes controlling the transport of Pb through the Sargasso Sea.

ESAC Student Seminar Series

A forum for students and postdocs to share recent research, hone presentation skills, and build community among peers, sponsored by the EAPS Student Advisory Committee. Open to current EAPS graduate and undergraduate students and postdocs. Typically hosted on Thursdays during the semester, including pizza lunch.

Contact: esac.officers@gmail.com