The NADP’s Mercury Deposition Network: Lessons from a continental-scale monitoring network.

1. 5 meters Max. 0.3 m The NADP’s Mercury Deposition Network: Lessons from a continental-scale monitoring network. David A. Gay, Coordinator, National Atmospheric Deposition Program Illinois State Water Survey, a division of the Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability at the University of Illinois2204 Griffith Drive, Champaign, Illinois 61820, ph: 217.244.0462, dgay@illinois.edu • Diversified Funding • Keys include: • member commitment (5+ years) • diversity of funding organizations Abstract Since 1978, the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) has tracked the status and changes in the many different chemical compounds within precipitation across the continent. The NADP monitors the removal of pollutants from the atmosphere; but as importantly, it monitors the addition of chemical compounds into the Biosphere of North America. In 1996, the Mercury Deposition Network began monitoring total and methyl mercury wet deposition in the U.S. and Canada (currently at 115 sites). Our primary charge has been to provide data for the determination of both spatial and temporal trends in mercury wet-deposition. And during these 14 years and with the 40,000 or so measurements of mercury wet deposition (and also the 350,000 basic chemical measurements from the NTN network), NADP has shown the value of consistent monitoring techniques, high quality assurance standards, and rigorous attention to procedures and data validation. This has allowed MDN data to be use to reliably quantify the flow of mercury into the environment, map this distribution over the U.S. and southern Canada, and identify and estimate trends. The keys to our longevity include a) a straightforward network design; b) sustained diversified funding; c) consistent data quality; d) bringing in new measurements and uses; and e) a few other lessons learned over the years. New Directions (a new network) Atmospheric Mercury Network (AMNet) of the NADP Purpose: to establish a North American atmospheric mercury speciation network to support dry deposition estimates, emission regulation impacts, model evaluation, and long-term trends. • Measurements • Wet deposition flux (MDN) • Hg speciation with Tekran 2537-1130-1135 System • Meteorology & leaf wetness • Land cover variables to provide data for provisional estimate of dry deposition flux • Network Design/Description NADP is a cooperative research program funded by federal, state, local and tribal agencies and private organizations. Four Networks • National Trends Network (NTN), • Atmospheric Integrated Research Monitoring Network (AIRMoN), • Mercury Deposition Network (MDN), • Atmospheric Mercury Network (AMNet). A long running USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (previously CSREES) research project located at the University of Illinois. The NADP’s mission is to determine the chemical climate of North America with emphasis on current status and long-term trends. Currently, the MDN has 115 monitoring sites measuring total mercury wet deposition with contract laboratory support from Frontier Geosciences, Inc. All MDN data is available at http://nadp.isws.illinois.edu Other keys to our network design include: • Governance by all sponsors, • Members choose to join, own equipment, control sites, and have long-term commitment. • Quality Assurance • Keys include: • Full-time Quality Assurance Manager, • Annual review (AND follow-up) of each part of the process, • External field & lab quality assurance programs (USGS), • Written operating procedures • Field SOPs • Lab procedures • Data procedures • Quality Management Plan, etc. • Site Liaison and equipment repair (i.e. help) MDN Sites • Lessons Learned…. • The most important “employee” is the operator (who in many cases is a volunteer). • Funding commitment (long term, decades…..). • Funding diversification (for when #2 fails). • Open and inclusive governance. • Patience. • Open data release, and if people believe your data, then they will use it, and #2 and #3 follow. 2009 Wet Deposition 2009 Concentration • The NADP is National Research Support Project-3: A Long-Term Monitoring Program in Support of Research on the Effects of Atmospheric Chemical Deposition. More than 250 sponsors support the NADP, including private companies and other nongovernmental organizations, universities, local and state government agencies, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, national laboratories, Native American organizations, Canadian government agencies, U.S. Federal agencies (USGS, NOAA, EPA, TVA, NPS, FWS, BLM, USDA-FS, and USDA_NIFA). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsors or the Illinois State Water Survey.