Keywords: mercury, soil evasion, extreme weather events, urban geochemistry

Education of the Young Researcher:

2021: BSc, Mineralogical and petrographical analysis of granitoids and pegmatites from Cer Mt., Sava-Vardar zone

2024: MSc, Lithium and boron in pyroclastic rocks from Bükkalja Volcanic Field

Content:

The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events present a significant challenge to modern civilisation. The consequences of these events are varied, including their effects on the mobility and properties of pollutants in different environmental compartments. Urban areas cannot escape the impacts of extreme weather events and may be even more vulnerable due to their distinct characteristics compared to natural environments. The high population density, together with numerous anthropogenic activities and pollutant sources, significantly alters the biogeochemical cycling of chemical elements and substances in urban environments relative to natural systems. This raises the question of how the already specific geochemical conditions and processes within urban environments respond to various extreme weather events.

Rising atmospheric temperatures also affect the biogeochemical cycling of elements. One of the less studied consequences of increasing temperatures is the enhanced evaporation of mercury from soils. The evaporation of this highly volatile and toxic element from contaminated soils represents a hidden risk associated with rising temperatures, particularly in urban environments. The objectives of the doctoral research are to determine the conditions and processes that influence mercury evaporation from soils. To deepen understanding of the factors affecting this process, we will conduct in situ evaporation measurements under various conditions, such as different land uses, seasons, weather conditions, times of day, and soil moisture. At the same time, the pedological, mineralogical, and geochemical properties of soils that could influence mercury evaporation will be analysed at the measurement sites. The planned test areas for the research are urban and industrial zones.

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