Assess atmospheric transport trajectories and variation in the wet deposition of mercury across Alaska: Analyze Alaskan NADP-MDN data

Post Date

September 2nd 2015

Application Due Date

October 1st 2015

Funding Opportunity Number

NPS-DOIP15AC01036

CFDA Number(s)

15.945

Funding Instrument Type(s)

Cooperative Agreement

Funding Activity Categories

Environment

Number of Awards

1

Eligibility Categories

Public and State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education

This Agreement is to be awarded to the CESU partner Desert Research Institute.

Funding

• Estimated Total Funding:

  $30000

• Award Range:

  $0 - $100000

Grant Description

Project Description Mercury is a toxic, bioaccumulating, biomagnifying pollutant that threatens ecosystems throughout the United States and has been detected at unexpectedly high levels in remote Alaskan sites far from sources. Information on mercuryмs transport trajectories and wet depositions patterns in Alaska is poorly understood. Mercury accumulation is an issue that transcends jurisdictional boundaries, is particularly impactful to aquatic and wetland ecosystem, and is thus highly relevant to land managers across that state and members of the public that have ties to fish resources. This effort will improve the state of knowledge about mercury deposition patterns across Alaska and inform state-wide mercury deposition monitoring plans. For the past several years, mercury wet deposition samples and analyte data have been collected at 5 sites in Alaska, but the data has not been analyzed, mined for relevant information, or reported on to the public or agencies tasked with managing aquatic resources. During this effort mercury deposition data will be analyzed by a collaborative team from the National Park Service (NPS) and the Desert Research Institute (DRI). A set of the highest mercury deposition event will be selected and backcast trajectories created using NOAAмs HYSPLIT atmospheric transport model. This will reveal the atmospheric conditions associated with significant deposition events and show where the gaseous mercury originated. A few of the lowest mercury deposition will also be assessed to reveal atmospheric conditions associated with clean conditions. Jointly produced story maps, displaying the story behind mercury deposition events in an easily to digest form, will be produced along with an NPS Natural Resources Report and a NPS-DRI co-authored peer reviewed journal manuscript. This investigation is also being conducted in partnership with the State of Alaska Department of Conservation which is provided some of the NADP mercury data. It address an important issue that has high relevancy beyond the boundaries of national parks and will help inform an important subsistence and recreational resources management issue across jurisdictional boundaries. ARTICLE II _ LEGAL AUTHORITY 54 USC_100703 Cooperative study units The Secretary shall enter into cooperative agreements with colleges and universities, including land grant schools, in partnership with other Federal and State agencies, to establish cooperative study units to conduct multi-disciplinary research and develop integrated information products on the resources of the System, or the larger region of which System units are a part.

Contact Information

• Agency

  Department of the Interior

• Office:

  National Park Service

• Agency Contact:

  James Cato
  Contract Specialist
  Phone 907-644-3302

• Agency Mailing Address:

  Work

• Agency Email Address:

  james_cato@nps.gov