Distribution of mercury in lakes of different landscape zones in the south of Western Siberia using the example of model objects along a meridional transect

Abstract

The work presents data on the concentration of mercury in bottom sediments of lakes, which are characterized by the nival type of sedimentogenesis. The mercury content for bottom sediments of lakes sampled in the middle and high mountains of the Altai Mountains is on average 0.06 μg/g. Differences in mercury concentration values for high- and mid-mountain lakes have not been established. It has been established that, regardless of the type of sedimentogenesis in lakes of different landscape zones of the south of Western Siberia along the meridional transect, the distribution of mercury along the section is characterized by an increase in values up the section towards the bottom sediments-water boundary, where they reach maximum values.