First expert meeting on mercury model comparison

14-15 February 2001, Moscow, Russia

The meeting was chaired by Sergey Dutchak (MSC-E/EMEP), Christian Seigneur (AER, USA), Gerhard Petersen (GKSS, Germany), Alexey Ryaboshapko (MSC-E, EMEP). Experts in the field of mercury issues, representatives of the EMEP Centres, Bureau of the EMEP Steering Body, UN ECE Secretariat took part in the meeting.

Stage I of mercury model intercomparison

The representative of MSC-E Sergey Dutchak informed the participants on EMEP activity concerning with HM model intercomparison studies started in 1996 with lead and cadmium models. He also presented the program of mercury model intercomparison focusing on the first stage "Comparison of chemical modules for mercury transformations in a cloud/fog environment".

At Stage I of mercury model intercomparison the following experts took part:

Russell Bullock, NOAA/EPA, USA
Ralf Ebinghaus, GKSS, Germany
Ilia Ilyin, MSC-E, EMEP
Kristen Lohman, AER, USA
John Munthe, IVL, Sweden
Gerhard Petersen, GKSS, Germany
Alexey Ryaboshapko, MSC-E, EMEP
Christian Seigneur, AER, USA
Ingvar Wangberg, IVL, Sweden

All participating scientific groups reported the results of the first stage of the intercomparison study. The results of the study were compared and thoroughly discussed. The meeting set forth actions required for the Stage I completion. It also agreed that the study will be finalized by: EMEP technical report, scientific paper and presentation at the conference "Mercury as a global pollutant" (Minimata, Japan, October 2001). The participant agreed that would be useful to organize a special session (working group) in the framework of the Minimata conference for the discussion of mercury modelling and measurements, provided under UN ECE.

Stage II of mercury model intercomparison

The participants agreed that the second stage of mercury model comparison study will be devoted to modeling the short-term episodes of mercury atmospheric transport and deposition in Northern Europe.

Two experimental measuring campaigns will be used as the basis of the second stage. Both of them were carried out at four monitoring stations: Neuglobsow (Germany), Zinst (Germany), Rorvik (Sweden) and Aspvreten (Sweden).

The data from Mace Head station (Ireland) could also be useful.

A possibility to include into consideration the station Mt. Wank (Germany) was also discussed. It was mentioned that complicated relief of station location and high altitude of the station could create additional difficulties in the modeling. Nevertheless it was decided to include the measurement results of this station into consideration.

Modeling of the first episode covering fortnight period of summer-95 should be focussed on total gaseous mercury concentrations (TGM) as the main parameter for comparison with the observations. Other modeling output values (gaseous oxidized mercury, particulate mercury) should also be compared between the participating models.

Modeling of the second episode should be focussed on particulate mercury concentrations as the main parameter for comparison with the observations. Other modeling output values (gaseous elemental and oxidized mercury, mercury in precipitation) should also be compared between the participating models. The dates of the episode will be specified in the near future.

Stages III and IV of mercury model intercomparison

The participants exchanged their views about Stages III and IV of the comparison. It was agreed that the program of these stages will be finalized during implementation of Stage II.

List of participants

Markus AMANN, IIASA, Austria (CIAM)
Torunn BERG, CCC, Norway
Russ BULLOCK, NOAA/EPA, USA
Ashu DASTOOR , Meteorological Service of CANADA, Canada
Sergey DUTCHAK, MSC-E, Russsia
Ralf EBINGHAUS, GKSS, Germany
Anton ELIASSEN, MSC-W, Norway
Alexey GUSEV, MSC-E, Russia
Hiels HEIDAM, DNMU/ATMI, Denmark
Alexander MALANICHEV, MSC-E, Russia
Ilia ILYIN, MSC-E, Russia
John MUNTHE, IVL, Sweden
Jozef PACYNA, CCC, Norway
Gerhard PETERSEN, GKSS, Germany
Alexey RYABOSHAPKO, MSC-E, Russia
Christian SEIGNEUR, AER, USA
Viktor SHATALOV, MSC-E, Russia
Dimiter SYRAKOV, NIMH, Bulgaria
Leonor TARRASON, MSC-W, Norway
Oleg TRAVNIKOV, MSC-E, Russia
Marina VARYGINA, MSC-E, Russia
Sonja VIDIC, SB Bureau
Henning WUESTER, UN ECE Secretariat