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- Title
Impacts of Extreme Weather on Mercury Uptake and Storage in Subtropical Forest Ecosystems.
- Authors
Yuan, Wei; Wang, Xun; Lin, Che‐Jen; Zhang, Hui; Feng, Xinbin; Lu, Zhiyun
- Abstract
As climate change accelerates, extreme weather events become more severe and frequent. We analyzed the datasets of decade‐long observation (2005–2020) of mercury (Hg) stored in two subtropical evergreen forests to understand the impacts of extreme weather on the sequestration of atmospheric Hg in forest ecosystems. Results show a weak correlation between litterfall Hg and atmospheric Hg0 concentration. Droughts and snowstorms significantly disturb Hg accumulation in litterfall and soils. Litterfall Hg concentration and deposition both display an increasing trend during the period of extended droughts in 2011–2014, but a decreasing trend after droughts. This is caused by the water stress that influences the change of tree physiology and processes of foliage Hg0 uptake. Snowstorm damages large areas of canopy, which leads to substantial canopy epiphyte cover mixed into the forest floor, thus considerably increasing soil Hg concentrations. Over a decadal timescale, soil Hg variabilities are shaped by the combined effects of atmospheric Hg inputs and processes of organic soil mineralization mediated climatic factors. Our study highlights that the accelerated climate change increases the unpredictability of Hg accumulation in terrestrial ecosystems. Future studies are needed for better understanding the response of Hg biogeochemical cycling to climate change among different terrestrial biomes. Plain Language Summary: The decade‐long observation of litterfall Hg deposition and uppermost soil Hg concentration was carried out at a subtropical forest in Southwest China. Our data clearly display how the extended droughts and largest snowstorm of the past four decades at studied site influencing the foliage and soil Hg cycling. We suggest the drought would increase the litterfall Hg concentration and total deposition flux, and the snowstorm would remarkedly increase the atmospheric Hg burden which derived from the canopy long‐term stored Hg. We highlight that the extreme weather events could disturb the ecological balance and Hg biogeochemical Hg cycling in forest ecosystem. Key Points: Extreme weather events significantly influence the Hg biogeochemical processes in subtropical forestsThe sustained droughts increase litterfall Hg concentration and deposition, and the snowstorm promotes soil Hg burden sharplyThe accelerated climate change distinctly increases the unpredictability in assessing the effectiveness of Minamata Convention
- Subjects
EXTREME weather; MERCURY; FOREST management; DROUGHTS; SNOWSTORMS
- Publication
Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences, 2022, Vol 127, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2169-8953
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1029/2021JG006681