DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF A REACTIVE PLUME MODEL FOR MERCURY EMISSIONS

A reactive plume model that includes atmospheric chemical reactions of mercury was developed. The model simulates advective transport with the mean wind flow; horizontal and vertical turbulent diffusion; gasphase; aqueous-phase and particulate chemistry; cloud microphysics; wet deposition and dry deposition. The model was applied to the simulation of clear sky, non-precipitating cloud and precipitating cloud scenarios. No significant mercury chemistry occurs in the absence of droplets. In clouds, Hg(II) is reduced to Hg(0) with more reduction taking place in precipitating clouds than in non-precipitating clouds.