Scientists find massive reserves of mercury in permafrost
>"The study found approximately 793 gigagrams, or more than 15 million gallons, of mercury is frozen in northern permafrost soil. That is roughly 10 times the amount of all human-caused mercury emissions over the last 30 years, based on emissions estimates from 2016.<p>>The study also found all frozen and unfrozen soil in northern permafrost regions contains a combined 1,656 gigagrams of mercury, making it the largest known reservoir of mercury on the planet. This pool houses nearly twice as much mercury as soils outside of the northern permafrost region, the ocean and the atmosphere combined.<p>Gigagram? Never heard that one before.. uh a billion (US) grams? So.. a million kilos..a thousand tonnes..a kilotonne.
or 1,656 gigagrams = 1.656 million tonnes, I think. (Weird that the imperial unit is gallons, a measure of volume I thought)<p>This doesn't sound good. Also I'm surprised that human mercury emissions in the last 30 years were so high. Since the late 80s..sheesh.