TU for Future: From tropics to poles: understanding the mercury cycle under global change 11. December 2024 | 18:30 h - 20:00 h
Mercury is a highly toxic element recognized as a significant global threat to both public health and the environment. According to the World Health Organization, it is among the top ten chemicals of major public health concern. Mercury is released into the environment through various natural processes and human activities, enabling it to travel vast distances and impacting even the most remote areas. This widespread mobility complicates efforts to manage pollution.
The relationship between climate change and mercury dynamics adds a further layer of complexity. Human activities like Amazon deforestation and forest fires disrupt the natural retention of mercury in vegetation, leading to higher atmospheric concentrations that can enter oceans. In the Arctic permafrost thaw, glacier melt, and coastal erosion are increasing mercury export. In addition, increasing phytoplankton production and coastal anoxia, exacerbated by agricultural runoff, elevates mercury levels in micro-algae, posing risks to marine food webs and higher trophic levels, including humans.
Understanding the multiple interactions influencing the mercury cycle remains critical, especially as climate-related changes—such as ocean warming and shifts in global precipitation—continue to evolve. Here, we will explore the different parts of the mercury cycle from the tropics to poles and the potential consequences of climate change on this pressing environmental issue.
Dr. Marta Pérez Rodríguez is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Environmental Geochemistry at the IGÖ. Her research focuses on the mercury cycle in tropical forests and the effects of ocean productivity on mercury dynamics.
Lecturer
Dr. Marta Pérez Rodríguez