Cooperators: USGS
Project Chief: Nathaniel L. Booth
Location: National
Project Number: 9KN17
Period of Project: March 2004–Continuing
Problem
Mercury contamination in aquatic ecosystems poses a
serious risk to both humans and aquatic life. Literature reflects methylated mercury contributes the majority of the toxicological response. Methylation of inorganic mercury occurs through various geochemical processes. While mercury deposition patterns are somewhat understood, to more precisely understand where problem areas might arise, landscape and water-quality data need to be linked to aerial mercury deposition patterns. In order for policy makers to estimate the response from various mercury emission rule scenarios, regions of the United States that have chemical, biological, and physical environmental characteristics that foster the methylation process need to be identified.
Objective
The intention of this project is to produce a series of map snapshots of mercury sensitivity based on several chemical, biological, and physical characteristics. The scale of the project is the 48 contiguous United States. As such, sensitivity characteristics will be investigated at a regional scale.
Approach
A web-based mapping interface will be built that will display various individual physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. The interface and the supporting datasets will be supported (hosted) under Phase I funds (below) until Phase I is complete. Report-quality map snapshots will be produced for various scenarios. Reference layers for the map will be limited to broad non-detailed physical, political, and infrastructure boundaries (i.e. U.S. highways, major rivers, state boundaries).
Progress (July 2003–June 2004)
Initial planning was undertaken to clarify the user and system requirements. A project plan was created and approved by the customer. Initial work was begun to bring together the required datasets and begin development of the mapping applications.
Plans (July 2004–June 2005)
Identification of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics that lead to mercury sensitivity (i.e., methylation and bioaccumulation) will be conducted. Datasets that will provide coverage of these characteristics will be gathered. A database will be designed and populated from these disparate data sources.
Algorithms to deal with temporal and spatial variability of the characteristics will be defined and resultants will be displayed through a web-based mapping interface. Methylmercury surface- water concentration data will be incorporated into the database. The mapping interface will allow researchers to identify areas where defined characteristics overlap which may indicate a susceptibility of that area to methylmercury occurrence in surface waters.
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