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Institute of Geology at Science Fair 2019

For the first time in its history, the Institute of Geology participated in the annual Science Fair held at the PVA EXPO Exhibition Center in Prague-Letňany in early June. This event presented over 100 displays from 54 institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences and many other institutions and companies. According to the organizers, the fair was visited by approximately 30,000 during the 3 days. It was a pleasure to see that the stand of the Institute of Geology was highly attended. Its main attractions included an exposition of minerals and fossils, presentations on mercury research in tree trunks and information on the latest research on moldavites, sandstone weathering forms, accumulation of heavy metals in mushrooms. Photographs from discoveries of large caves were meeting a lot of interest. The greatest success, however, was microscopy of fossils together with a geo-quiz after the completion of which visitors could keep a mineral sample of their choice. The quiz was completed (either individually or in a group) by more than 250 visitors of all ages. For additional details on the Fair click here.

Mercury deposition in the Czech Republic decreasing in the 21st century

Mercury as a global pollutant is regularly mentioned in the news with respect to discussions about its emissions. Due to the low reactivity of gaseous elemental mercury in the atmosphere the wet deposition is low at 2–3 µg/m2/year. In forest environment, the main deposition path of Hg to the forest floor is litterfall. Litterfall Hg deposition, including deposition of biomass, such as needles, twigs, cones and bark, reaches usually 20–50 µg/m2/year. Long-term research of two mountain lake catchments in the Šumava (Bohemian Forest) National Park area indicated a significant decrease in Hg deposition in litterfall since the beginning of the 21st century. Furthermore, this research shows that the bark beetle infestation may increase Hg deposition up to 5 fold due to high biomass deposition. This study evaluated individual contribution of spruce litterfall components, such as needles, twigs, cones, bark, lichen and unidentifiable debris separately. Research published in Science of the Total Environment (IF 4,6) Journal was performed within a broad cooperation with the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, U.S. Geological Survey and Global Change Research Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

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