Areal and vertical distribution of total soil mercury and total phosphorusin the southern half of water conservation area 3-A, Everglades, Southern Florida

Authors

Cleone Botelho Arfstrom, Florida International University

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Geosciences

First Advisor's Name

Andrew Macfarlane

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Ronald D. Jones

Third Advisor's Name

Jose Longoria

Date of Defense

6-16-1995

Abstract

Total soil-mercury and phosphorus concentrations were determined in 64 sites in the southern half of Water Conservation Area 3A, an area of approximately 500 km² . Surface soil-Hg concentrations ranged from 117 to 300 ng-g^-1;
total phosphorus concentrations range from 350 to 850 pg~g^-1. No consistent north-south or east-west trends are found in the mercury or phosphorus surface concentrations when they are normalized to soil bulk density. Nine sites were used for the determination of the vertical distribution of soilmercury. Vertical profiles of soil-Hg revealed decreasing concentrations with depth and correlated well with phosphorus in soil profiles. Mercury concentrations in soil profiles may be interpreted as an increase in the rate of deposition of mercury in the region in recent decades and/or as postdepositional
mobilization of mercury to surface layers.

Identifier

FI14032337

Recommended Citation

Arfstrom, Cleone Botelho, "Areal and vertical distribution of total soil mercury and total phosphorusin the southern half of water conservation area 3-A, Everglades, Southern Florida" (1995). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1305.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1305