Mercury emissions of a coal-fired power plant in Germany
Andreas Weigelt1,a,Franz Slemr2,Ralf Ebinghaus1,Nicola Pirrone3,Johannes Bieser1,4,Jan Bödewadt1,Giulio Esposito3,and Peter F. J. van Velthoven5Andreas Weigelt et al. Andreas Weigelt1,a,Franz Slemr2,Ralf Ebinghaus1,Nicola Pirrone3,Johannes Bieser1,4,Jan Bödewadt1,Giulio Esposito3,and Peter F. J. van Velthoven5
1Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG), Institute of Coastal Research,
Geesthacht, Germany
2Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry (MPI-C), Department of Atmospheric
Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
3National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Atmospheric Pollution
Research, Rende, Italy
4Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institute of
Atmospheric Physics, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
5Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), Chemistry and
Climate Division, De Bilt, the Netherlands
anow at: Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), Hamburg, Germany
1Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG), Institute of Coastal Research,
Geesthacht, Germany
2Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry (MPI-C), Department of Atmospheric
Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
3National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Atmospheric Pollution
Research, Rende, Italy
4Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institute of
Atmospheric Physics, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
5Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), Chemistry and
Climate Division, De Bilt, the Netherlands
anow at: Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), Hamburg, Germany
Correspondence: Andreas Weigelt (andreas.weigelt@bsh.de) and Franz Slemr (franz.slemr@mpic.de)
Received: 04 May 2016 – Discussion started: 22 Jun 2016 – Revised: 05 Oct 2016 – Accepted: 06 Oct 2016 – Published: 03 Nov 2016
Abstract. Hg ∕ SO2, Hg ∕ CO, NOx ∕ SO2 (NOx being the sum of NO and NO2) emission ratios (ERs) in the plume of the coal-fired power plant (CFPP), Lippendorf, near Leipzig, Germany, were determined within the European Tropospheric Mercury Experiment (ETMEP) aircraft campaign in August 2013. The gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) fraction of mercury emissions was also assessed. Measured Hg ∕ SO2 and Hg ∕ CO ERs were within the measurement uncertainties consistent with the ratios calculated from annual emissions in 2013 reported by the CFPP operator, while the NOx ∕ SO2 ER was somewhat lower. The GOM fraction of total mercury emissions, estimated using three independent methods, was below ∼ 25 %. This result is consistent with other findings and suggests that GOM fractions of ∼ 40 % of CFPP mercury emissions in current emission inventories are overestimated.
Hg ∕ SO2, Hg ∕ CO, and NOx ∕ SO2 emission ratios (ERs) in the plume of the coal-fired power plant (CFPP), Lippendorf, near Leipzig in Germany, were determined in August 2013. GOM fraction of mercury emissions was also assessed. Measured Hg ∕ SO2 and Hg ∕ CO ERs were consistent with the ratios calculated from annual emissions in 2013 reported by the CFPP operator. The NOx ∕ SO2 ER was somewhat lower. GOM fractions of ~ 40 % of CFPP mercury emissions in current emission inventories are overestimated.
Hg ∕ SO2, Hg ∕ CO, and NOx ∕ SO2 emission ratios (ERs) in the plume of the...