Articles | Volume 16, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-3743-2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-3743-2016
Research article
 | 
21 Mar 2016
Research article |  | 21 Mar 2016

Mercury oxidation from bromine chemistry in the free troposphere over the southeastern US

Sean Coburn, Barbara Dix, Eric Edgerton, Christopher D. Holmes, Douglas Kinnison, Qing Liang, Arnout ter Schure, Siyuan Wang, and Rainer Volkamer

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Cited articles

Aliwell, S. R., van Roozendael, M., Johnston, P. V., Richter, A., Wagner, T., Arlander, D. W., Burrows, J. P., Fish, D. J., Jones, R. L., Tørnkvist, K. K., Lambert, J.-C., Pfeilsticker, K., and Pundt, I.: Analysis of BrO in zenith-sky spectra: An Intercomparison exercise for analysis improvement, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 107, ACH 10-1–ACH 10-20, https://doi.org/10.1029/2001JD000329, 2002.
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Here we present a day of case study measurements of the vertical distribution of bromine monoxide over the coastal region of the Gulf of Mexico. These measurements are used to assess the contribution of bromine radicals to the oxidation of elemental mercury in the troposphere. We find that the measured levels of bromine in the troposphere are sufficient to quickly oxidize mercury, which has significant implications for our understanding of atmospheric mercury processes.
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