scholarly journals Emissions of mercury in southern Africa derived from long-term observations at Cape Point, South Africa

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 7465-7474 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.-G. Brunke ◽  
R. Ebinghaus ◽  
H. H. Kock ◽  
C. Labuschagne ◽  
F. Slemr
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Emission Inventories ◽  
Pronounced Difference ◽  
Mercury Emissions ◽  
Co Emission ◽  
Emission Ratios

Abstract. Mercury emissions in South Africa have so far been estimated only by a bottom-up approach from activities and emission factors for different processes. In this paper we derive GEM/CO (GEM being gaseous elemental mercury, Hg0), GEM/CO2, GEM/CH4, CO/CO2, CH4/CO2, and CH4/CO emission ratios from plumes observed during long-term monitoring of these species at Cape Point between March 2007 and December 2009. The average observed GEM/CO, GEM/CO2, GEM/CH4, CO/CO2, CH4/CO2, and CH4/CO emission ratios were 2.40 ± 2.65 pg m−3 ppb−1 (n = 47), 62.7 ± 80.2 pg m−3 ppm−1 (n = 44), 3.61 ± 4.66 pg m−3 ppb−1 (n = 46), 35.6 ± 25.4 ppb ppm−1 (n = 52), 20.2 ± 15.5 ppb ppm−1 (n = 48), and 0.876 ± 1.106 ppb ppb−1 (n = 42), respectively. The observed CO/CO2, CH4/CO2, and CH4/CO emission ratios agree within the combined uncertainties of the observations and emissions with the ratios calculated from EDGAR (version 4.2) CO2, CO, and CH4 inventories for South Africa and southern Africa (South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique) in 2007 and 2008 (inventories for 2009 are not available yet). Total elemental mercury emission of 13.1, 15.2, and 16.1 t Hg yr−1 are estimated independently using the GEM/CO, GEM/CO2, and GEM/CH4 emission ratios and the annual mean CO, CO2, and CH4 emissions, respectively, of South Africa in 2007 and 2008. The average of these independent estimates of 14.8 t GEM yr−1 is much less than the total emission of 257 t Hg yr−1 shown by older inventories which are now considered to be wrong. Considering the uncertainties of our emission estimate, of the emission inventories, and the fact that emission of GEM represents 50–78 % of all mercury emissions, our estimate is comparable to the currently cited GEM emissions in 2004 and somewhat smaller than emissions in 2006. A further increase of mercury emissions due to increasing electricity consumption will lead to a more pronounced difference. A quantitative assessment of the difference and its significance, however, will require emission inventories for the years of observations (2007–2009) as well as better data on the speciation of the total mercury emissions in South Africa.

scholarly journals Emissions of mercury in Southern Africa derived from long-term observations at Cape Point, South Africa

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 11079-11103
Author(s):  
E.-G. Brunke ◽  
R. Ebinghaus ◽  
H. H. Kock ◽  
C. Labuschagne ◽  
F. Slemr
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Mercury Emission ◽  
Mercury Emissions ◽  
Gaseous Elemental Mercury ◽  
Term Monitoring ◽  
Co Emission ◽  
Emission Ratios

Abstract. Mercury emissions in South Africa have so far been estimated only by a bottom-up approach from activities and emission factors for different processes. In this paper we derive GEM/CO (GEM being gaseous elemental mercury, Hg0), GEM/CO2, GEM/CH4, CO/CO2, CH4/CO2, and CH4/CO emission ratios from plumes observed during long-term monitoring of these species at Cape Point between March 2007 and December 2009. The average observed GEM/CO, GEM/CO2, GEM/CH4, CO/CO2, CH4/CO2, and CH4/CO emission ratios were 2.40 ± 2.65 pg m−3 ppb−1 (n = 47), 62.7 ± 80.2 pg m−3 ppb−1 (n = 44), 3.61 ± 4.66 pg m−3 ppb−1 (n = 46), 35.6 ± 25.4 ppb ppm−1 (n = 52), 20.2 ± 15.5 ppb ppm−1 (n=48), and 0.876 ± 1.106 ppb ppm−1 (n=42), respectively. The observed CO/CO2, CH4/CO2, and CH4/CO emission ratios agree within the combined uncertainties of the observations and emissions with the ratios calculated from EDGAR (version 4.2) CO2, CO, and CH4 inventories for South Africa and Southern Africa (South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique) in 2007 and 2008 (inventories for 2009 are not available yet). Total elemental mercury emission of 13.1, 15.2, and 16.1 t Hg yr−1 are estimated independently using the GEM/CO, GEM/CO2, and GEM/CH4 emission ratios and the annual mean CO, CO2, and CH4 emissions, respectively, of South Africa in 2007 and 2008. The average of these independent estimates of 14.8 ± 1.5 t GEM yr−1 is much less than the total emission of 257 t Hg yr−1 from older inventories. Considering that emission of GEM represents only 50–78% of all mercury emissions, our estimates come close to the total mercury emission estimates ranging between 40–50 t Hg yr−1 from more recent inventories.

scholarly journals Trend of atmospheric mercury concentrations at Cape Point for 1995–2004 and since 2007

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynwill G. Martin ◽  
Casper Labuschagne ◽  
Ernst-Günther Brunke ◽  
Andreas Weigelt ◽  
Ralf Ebinghaus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Wet Deposition ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Atmospheric Mercury ◽  
Austral Spring ◽  
Mercury Emissions ◽  
Gaseous Elemental Mercury ◽  
Regional Processes

Abstract. Long-term measurements of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) concentrations at Cape Point, South Africa, reveal a downward trend between September 1995 and December 2005 and an upward one since March 2007 until June 2015 implying a change in trend sign between 2004 and 2007. The trend change is qualitatively consistent with the trend changes in GEM concentrations observed at Mace Head, Ireland, and in mercury wet deposition over North America suggesting a change in worldwide mercury emissions. Seasonally resolved trends suggest a modulation of the overall trend by regional processes. The trends in absolute terms (downward in 1995–2004 and upward in 2007–2015) are the highest in austral spring (SON) coinciding with the peak in emissions from biomass burning in South America and southern Africa. The influence of trends in biomass burning is further supported by a biennial variation in GEM concentration found here and an ENSO signature in GEM concentrations reported recently.

Southern Africa: A Cataclysm Averted?

Worldview ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 11-16
Author(s):  
Ross K. Baker
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
American Foreign Policy ◽  
National Interest ◽  
Substantial Part ◽  
World Power ◽  
External Relations ◽  
The Republic

In a time when idiocies such as the domino theory comprise a substantial part of American foreign policy one has to look hard for evidence that authentic national interest is anywhere being invoked as a rationale for external relations. That the Republic of South Africa seems to be a world power demonstrating innovation in diplomacy and putting shibboleths in their rightful place says something about the genera] bankruptcy of Western statecraft. While Ford and Kissinger flail about seeking justifications for American failures and misalliances, a moldy, outcast regime in Pretoria has embarked upon a path of diplomatic initiative which has effectively breached the wall of isolation that has surrounded it for two decades. The motives of the regime of John Vorster may be sinister and base, but there appears to be a far more sophisticated perception of long-term interests in Pretoria than in Washington.

scholarly journals Mercury emissions of a coal-fired power plant in Germany

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (21) ◽  
pp. 13653-13668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Weigelt ◽  
Franz Slemr ◽  
Ralf Ebinghaus ◽  
Nicola Pirrone ◽  
Johannes Bieser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Emission Inventories ◽  
Mercury Emissions ◽  
Measurement Uncertainties ◽  
Current Emission ◽  
Emission Ratios ◽  
Gaseous Oxidized Mercury

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.

A review of carbon dioxide capture and sequestration and the Kyoto Protocol’s clean development mechanism and prospects for Southern Africa

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Lotz ◽  
A.C. Brent
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Clean Development Mechanism ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Capture ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Certified Emission Reduction ◽  
Development Mechanism

AbstractThe clean development mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol is a financial incentive intended to make economically marginal greenhouse gas (GHG) prevention projects more feasible. Carbon dioxide capture and sequestration (CCS) is a possi-ble GHG mitigating strategy. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines a CCS project as a process consisting of three phases: the separation of carbon dioxide from industrial and energy-related sources; transportation of the carbon dioxide to a storage location; and long-term isola-tion of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This paper focuses on prospects of CCS as CDM projects in general and in the context of Southern Africa. Currently there is no evidence of a long term proven track record of integrated CCS systems; only three industrial scale CCS projects exist global-ly. Nevertheless, new concepts have been proposed for CCS CDM projects such as long-term liability and certified emission reduction (CER) cancellation. However, these concepts are not in the current CDM framework at present. It is thus difficult to prove CCS as an eligible CDM project without first addressing possible expansion and shortfalls of the current CDM structure. More research is also required to quantify the trade offs presented between mitigating carbon dioxide from the atmos-phere at the possible detriment of the areas of stor-age in the Southern Africa context. Only then may CCS projects be deemed more viable in the CDM context. Finally, although the potential for CCS in South Africa has been noted due to major point sources, the cost of capture and storage is a major obstacle; matching point sources and geological storage options is problematic for South Africa and neighbouring countries due to large transport dis-tances. The regulatory risks associated with CCS are further deterrents for the implementation of CCS CDM projects in Southern Africa in the near future.

scholarly journals South Africa’s Strategic Investment on its National Security in Southern Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Security ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Regional Power ◽  
Strategic Investment ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
External Relations ◽  
To Come ◽  
Global Strength

South Africa is a country of global, continental and regional strategic importance. It is a global actor with the well-entrenched and long-standing international political and corporate role and presence and relative global strength. It is Africa’s qualitatively largest and strongest diversified economy. It is African continental and Southern African regional power with considerable continental and regional strength. These factors give it enormous advantages and privileges in playing a leading role in African affairs. They also, dialectically, serve as its key challenges it faces in its efforts to structurally transform its society and to contribute towards structural regional and continental restructuring. How given these factors should South Africa strategically invest on its national security in Southern Africa – the region where it has considerable power and authority – a region whose dependence upon it is a dominated process? There is a fundamental need for this process to be substantially reduced for South Africa’s long-term strategic interests. Its sustainable national security and increased progressive role in African affairs require truly regional allies in a requisite position to come to its aid in a period of its urgent need. Weak regional countries crucially depending on South Africa are of less importance to it. The achievement of their sustainable development is in the long-term strategic interests of South Africa in its internal and external relations. It is not only regional countries which need South Africa for their national security. South Africa also critically needs them particularly as a country expected to substantially increase its leading role in the structural regional and continental transformation. Its sustainable national security lies not only with the majority of its people, based on the satisfaction of their interests, investing on its defence, but also with the structurally restructured region walking together with it in the advancement of the structural continental transformation.

The Basotho Nation-State: What Legacy for the Future?

1981 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard F. Weisfelder
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Identity ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Nation State ◽  
Considerable Effort ◽  
Economic Problems ◽  
History Of ◽  
Political Weapon

Virtually all analyses of Lesotho's political framework have agreed that strong elements of national identity have neither forestalled domestic conflict nor served to promote a unified assault on awesome economic problems. Hence many writers imply that a major asset, rarely found in independent Africa, has been wasted.1 Roger Leys has perceptively applied dependency theories of a ‘labour reserve’ economy to Lesotho,2 and spends considerable effort on historical analysis aimed at demonstrating the duration and pervasiveness of this process of systematic underdevelopment. In his conclusion he suggests that ‘the long and courageous battle of the Basotho to assert their dignity and worth is in fact a resource and political weapon of incomparable significance in the long-term battle for the liberation of southern Africa.’ Leys infers that national and class identities are interrelated, and possibly reinforcing, when he says that ‘the history of the struggle of the Basotho people and the very degree of their integration into the black working class of South Africa is a formidable weapon.’3

scholarly journals Mercury emissions of a coal fired power plant in Germany

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Weigelt ◽  
Franz Slemr ◽  
Ralf Ebinghaus ◽  
Nicola Pirrone ◽  
Johannes Bieser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Emission Inventories ◽  
So2 Emission ◽  
Mercury Emissions ◽  
Upper Limit ◽  
Measurement Uncertainties ◽  
Current Emission ◽  
Emission Ratios

Abstract. Hg/SO2, Hg/CO, NOx/SO2 emission ratios (ERs) in the plume of coal fired power plant (CFPP) Lippendorf near Leipzig in Germany were determined within the European Tropospheric Mercury Experiment (ETMEP) aircraft campaign in August 2013. 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, the NOx/SO2 ER was somewhat lower. GOM fraction of total mercury emissions, estimated by three independent methods, was ~10 % with an upper limit of ~25 %. This result is consistent with findings by others and suggests that GOM fractions of ~40 % of CFPP mercury emissions in current emission inventories are overestimated.

scholarly journals Trend of atmospheric mercury concentrations at Cape Point for 1995–2004 and since 2007

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 2393-2399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynwill G. Martin ◽  
Casper Labuschagne ◽  
Ernst-Günther Brunke ◽  
Andreas Weigelt ◽  
Ralf Ebinghaus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Wet Deposition ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Atmospheric Mercury ◽  
Austral Spring ◽  
Mercury Emissions ◽  
Gaseous Elemental Mercury ◽  
Regional Processes

Abstract. Long-term measurements of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) concentrations at Cape Point, South Africa, reveal a downward trend between September 1995 and December 2005 and an upward one from March 2007 until June 2015, implying a change in trend sign between 2004 and 2007. The trend change is qualitatively consistent with the trend changes in GEM concentrations observed at Mace Head, Ireland, and in mercury wet deposition over North America, suggesting a change in worldwide mercury emissions. Seasonally resolved trends suggest a modulation of the overall trend by regional processes. The trends in absolute terms (downward in 1995–2004 and upward in 2007–2015) are highest in austral spring (SON), coinciding with the peak in emissions from biomass burning in South America and southern Africa. The influence of trends in biomass burning is further supported by a biennial variation in GEM concentration found here and an El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signature in GEM concentrations reported recently.

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