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I am part of an NSF-funded Navigating the New Arctic (NNA) project that holistically examines the impacts of riverbank erosion in the Yukon River Basin, Alaska. My research focuses on mercury biogeochemistry, exploring how riverbank erosion and shifiting landscapes influence mercury cycling in Arctic freshwater systems and may affect ecosystem and human health.
How Much Mercury is Stored in Arctic Permafrost?
Rapid Arctic warming threatens to destabilize mercury (Hg) stored in permafrost soils, yet current estimates of these Hg stocks vary by nearly fourfold. The amount of Hg that may be released as permafrost thaws, and the pathways by which it is transported through Artic river systems, remains poorly understood. Using sediment analyses, field observations, and remote sensing, my research quantifies Hg storage in permafrost landscapes and examines how Hg is transported or deposited by rivers across the Yukon River Basin.
Where are Future Methylmercury Hotspots Likely to Form?
Methylmercury (MeHg) is the form of mercury that most readily enters food webs and accumulates in fish and wildlife. As permafrost thaws, it can release of mercury, sulfate, and organic matter that create optimal environmental conditions for microbial activity promoting MeHg production.
My research combines geomorphology, hydrology, and biogeochemistry to identify areas with high methylmercury production potential and understand the landscape processes that drive their formation. By locating present-day methylmercury hotspots and examining how they develop, we can better predict where future hotspots may emerge as Arctic environments continue to warm.
How Will a Warming Arctic Affect Mercury Exposure?
Mercury is a toxic metal that can accumulate in organisms and become increasingly concentrated as it moves up the food chain. For most people, the primary pathway of mercury exposure is through diet, particularly the consumption of fish and other aquatic resources. As a result, communities that rely heavily on subsistence foods may face higher risks of mercury exposure.
Rapid environmental change is altering both Arctic ecosystems and human food systems. Thawing permafrost has the potential to release large stores of mercury into the environment, while changing environmental conditions may influence the availability and consumption of traditional foods. My research examines how shifts in dietary patterns and more environmental mercury may independently and collectively alter mercury exposure in Arctic communities.
This work seeks to better understand how a warming Arctic may influence future mercury burdens and exposure risks.
Collaborators:
This research was supported by the National Science Foundation, the Geological Society of America, and the Resnick Sustainability Institute at Caltech.
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