Long-range atmospheric transport of trace metals: the need for geoscience perspectives

Abstract

 The scientific literature of the past 25 years indicates a lack of consensus over the relative significance of anthropogenic and natural sources of metals in rural and remote ecosystems, meaning areas located several hundred to several thousand kilometers from industrial point sources. Geoscience perspectives are needed to address the critical information gaps associated with this issue, particularly where information on the significance and variability of naturally occurring metals is required. Uncertainties in source apportionment need to be addressed by improving methods of fingerprinting sources of airborne particles, and establishing identities of individual particles on the basis of characteristic morphologies and chemical composition. Further research is required to obtain robust estimates of total metal emissions to the atmosphere and to the oceans in order to determine the relative contribution from anthropogenic sources. Such research must involve a systematic attempt to obtain spatially and temporally representative data on the natural release of metals at the global scale. Moreover, a clear understanding of all local natural and anthropogenic loadings to an ecosystem is required before firm conclusions can be drawn about the relative importance of long-range atmospheric transport.