Subjective body and life. An Essay on the way of thinking of Michel Henry

v českém jazyce: Ústředním tématem této diplomové práce je fenomenologie těla a s ní spojené zkoumání aktu zjevování jako takového v díle francouzského filosofa Michela Henryho. Fenomenologickou pozici tohoto myslitele se pokusíme vymezit především v konfrontaci s intencionální fenomenologií Edmunda Husserla, která původ zjevování spojuje se světem. Proti této klasické variantě fenomenologie postavíme Henryho fenomenologii života. Tímto způsobem pojatý život je přitom neviditelný či nezjevný, neboť se nám jakožto radikálně imanentní nemůže ukázat v rámci exteriority světa. Redefinice klasické koncepce zjevování by nám v každém případě měla umožnit přístup k tomu, co nás v tomto textu především zajímá, totiž subjektivní či transcendentální tělo, které se nám dává v ničím nezprostředkovaném afektivním sebe-zakoušení své neviditelné interiority. Z těchto důvodů označíme spolu s Henrym subjektivní tělo za imanentní bytí, které je zároveň zjevováním. Na základě odmítnutí klasické koncepce vědomí, které je redukováno na intencionální vztah k předmětu, a odhalením transcendentálního vnitřního těla na půdě subjektivity tak představíme čtenáři Henryho vlastní, radikální fenomenologii interiority, fenomenologii života.v anglickém jazyce: The fundamental theme of this diploma paper is the phenomenology of the body which is related to the investigation of the act of the appearing itself in the works of the French philosopher Michel Henry. The phenomenological approach of this thinker is going to be defined primarily by the confrontation with intentional phenomenology of Edmund Husserl, which in the matter of the appearance keeps itself within the bounds of the relation to the world. This classical version of the phenomenology will be compared with Henrys phenomenology of the life. The life which is understood in such a manner is invisible or unapparent because it is radically immanent and never appears in the exteriority of the world. Anyhow, the redefinition of the classical conception of the appearance should make possible access to the most important and the most interesting thing for us that is to say to subjective or transcendental body, which appears and experiences itself directly in its affective self- experience of the invisible interiority. Therefore, the subjective body is going to be described upon these grounds together with Henry as immanent being that is at the same time appearance. Thus we are going to present philosophy of Michel Henry, which is called radical phenomenology of interiority that is...Institute of Philosophy and Religious StudiesÚstav filosofie a religionistikyFaculty of ArtsFilozofická fakult

Eddy covariance flux measurements of gaseous elemental mercury over a grassland

Direct measurements of the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg-0) are important to improve our understanding of global Hg cycling and, ultimately, human and wildlife Hg exposure. The lack of long-term, ecosystem-scale measurements causes large uncertainties in Hg-0 flux estimates. It currently remains unclear whether terrestrial ecosystems are net sinks or sources of atmospheric Hg-0. Here, we show a detailed validation of direct Hg-0 flux measurements based on the eddy covariance technique (Eddy Mercury) using a Lumex RA-915 AM mercury monitor. The flux detection limit derived from a zero-flux experiment in the laboratory was 0.22 ng m(-2) h(-1) (maximum) with a 50% cutoff at 0.074 ng m(-2) h(-1). We present eddy covariance NEE measurements of Hg-0 over a low-Hg soil (41-75 ng Hg g(-1) in the topsoil, referring to a depth of 0-10 cm), conducted in summer 2018 at a managed grassland at the Swiss FluxNet site in Chamau, Switzerland (CH-Cha). The statistical estimate of the Hg-0 flux detection limit under outdoor conditions at the site was 5.9 ng m(-2) h(-1') (50% cutoff). We measured a net summertime emission over a period of 34 d with a median Hg-0 flux of 2.5 ng m(-2) h(-1) (with a -0.6 to 7.4 ng m(-2) h(-1) range between the 25th and 75th percentiles). We observed a distinct diel cycle with higher median daytime fluxes (8.4 ng m(-2) h(-1)) than night-time fluxes (1.0 ng m(-2) h(-1)). Drought stress during the measurement campaign in summer 2018 induced partial stomata closure of vegetation. Partial stomata closure led to a midday depression in CO2 uptake, which did not recover during the afternoon. The median CO2 flux was only 24% of the median CO2 flux measured during the same period in the previous year (2017). We suggest that partial stomata closure also dampened Hg-0 uptake by vegetation, resulting in a NEE of Hg-0 that was dominated by soil emission. Finally, we provide suggestions to further improve the precision and handling of the "Eddy Mercury" system in order to assure its suitability for long-term NEE measurements of Hg-0 over natural background surfaces with low soil Hg concentrations (< 100 ng g(-1)). With these improvements, Eddy Mercury has the potential to be integrated into global networks of micrometeorological tower sites (FluxNet) and to provide the long-term observations on terrestrial atmosphere Hg-0 exchange necessary to validate regional and global mercury models

Mercury in tundra vegetation of Alaska: Spatial and temporal dynamics and stable isotope patterns

Vegetation uptake of atmospheric mercury (Hg) is an important mechanism enhancing atmospheric Hg deposition via litterfall and senescence. We here report Hg concentration and pool sizes of different plant functional groups and plant species across nine tundra sites in northern Alaska. Significant spatial differences were observed in bulk vegetation Hg concentrations at Toolik Field station (52 ± 9 μg kg−1), Eight Mile Lake Observatory (40 ± 0.2 μg kg−1), and seven sites along a transect from Toolik Field station to the Arctic coast (36 ± 9 μg kg−1). Hg concentrations in non-vascular vegetation including feather and peat moss (58 ± 6 μg kg−1 and 34 ± 2 μg kg−1, respectively) and brown and white lichen (41 ± 2 μg kg−1 and 34 ± 2 μg kg−1, respectively), were three to six times those of vascular plant tissues (8 ± 1 μg kg−1 in dwarf birch leaves and 9 ± 1 μg kg−1 in tussock grass). A high representation of nonvascular vegetation in aboveground biomass resulted in substantial Hg mass contained in tundra aboveground vegetation (29 μg m−2), which fell within the range of foliar Hg mass estimated for forests in the United States (15 to 45 μg m−2) in spite of much shorter growing seasons. Hg stable isotope signatures of different plant species showed that atmospheric Hg(0) was the dominant source of Hg to tundra vegetation. Mass-dependent isotope signatures (δ202Hg) in vegetation relative to atmospheric Hg(0) showed pronounced shifts towards lower values, consistent with previously reported isotopic fractionation during foliar uptake of Hg(0). Mass-independent isotope signatures (Δ199Hg) of lichen were more positive relative to atmospheric Hg(0), indicating either photochemical reduction of Hg(II) or contributions of inorganic Hg(II) from atmospheric deposition and/or dust. Δ199Hg and Δ200Hg values in vascular plant species were similar to atmospheric Hg(0) suggesting that overall photochemical reduction and subsequent re-emission was relatively insignificant in these tundra ecosystems, in agreement with previous Hg(0) ecosystem flux measurements

Automated Stable Isotope Sampling of Gaseous Elemental Mercury (ISO-GEM): Insights into GEM Emissions from Building Surfaces

Atmospheric monitoring networks quantify gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) concentrations, but not isotopic compositions. Here, we present a new method for automated and quantitative stable isotope sampling of GEM (ISO-GEM) at the outlet of a commercial Hg analyzer. A programmable multivalve manifold selects Hg at the analyzer inlet and outlet based on specific criteria (location, time, GEM concentration, auxiliary threshold). Outlet Hg recovery was tested for gold traps, oxidizing acidic solution traps, and activated carbon traps. We illustrate the ISO-GEM method in an exploratory study on the effect of building walls on local GEM. We find that GEM concentrations directly at the building surface (wall inlet) are significantly enhanced (mean 3.8 ± 1.8 ng/m; 3; ) compared to 3 m from the building wall (free inlet) (mean 1.5 ± 0.4 ng/m; 3; ). GEM δ; 202; Hg (-1.26‰ ± 0.41‰, 1 SD, n = 16) and Δ; 199; Hg (-0.05‰ ± 0.10‰, 1 SD, n = 16) at the wall inlet were different from ambient GEM δ; 202; Hg (0.76‰ ± 0.09‰, 1 SD, n = 16) and Δ; 199; Hg (-0.21‰ ± 0.05‰, 1 SD, n = 16) at the free inlet. The isotopic fingerprint of GEM at the wall inlet suggests that GEM emission from the aluminum building surface affected local GEM concentration measurements. These results illustrate the versatility of the automated Hg isotope sampling

Modelling the mercury stable isotope distribution of Earth surface reservoirs: Implications for global Hg cycling

Mercury (Hg) stable isotopes are useful to understand Hg biogeochemical cycling because physical, chemical and biological processes cause characteristic Hg isotope mass-dependent (MDF) and mass-independent (MIF) fractionation. Here, source Hg isotope signatures and process-based isotope fractionation factors are integrated into a fully coupled, global atmospheric-terrestrial-oceanic box model of MDF (delta Hg-202), odd-MIF (Delta Hg-199) and even-MIF (Delta Hg-200). Using this bottom-up approach, we find that the simulated Hg isotope compositions are inconsistent with the observations. We then fit the Hg isotope enrichment factors for MDF, odd-MIF and even-MIF to observational Hg isotope constraints. The MDF model suggests that atmospheric Hg-0 photo-oxidation should enrich heavy Hg isotopes in the reactant Hg-0, in contrast to the experimental observations of Hg-0 photo-oxidation by Br. The fitted enrichment factor of terrestrial Hg-0 emission in the odd-MIF model (5 parts per thousand) is likely biased high, suggesting that the terrestrial Hg-0 emission flux (160 Mg yr(-1)) used in our standard model is underestimated. In the even-MIF model, we find that a small positive atmospheric Hg-0 photo-oxidation enrichment factor (0.22 parts per thousand) along with enhanced atmospheric Hg-II photo-reduction and atmospheric Hg-0 dry deposition (foliar uptake) fluxes to the terrestrial reservoir are needed to match Delta Hg-200 observations. Marine Hg isotope measurements are needed to further expand the use of Hg isotopes in understanding global Hg cycling. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

A bottom-up quantification of foliar mercury uptake fluxes across Europe

The exchange of gaseous elemental mercury, Hg(0), between the atmosphere and terrestrial surfaces remains poorly understood mainly due to difficulties in measuring net Hg(0) fluxes on the ecosystem scale. Emerging evidence suggests foliar uptake of atmospheric Hg(0) to be a major deposition pathway to terrestrial surfaces. Here, we present a bottom-up approach to calculate Hg(0) uptake fluxes to aboveground foliage by combining foliar Hg uptake rates normalized to leaf area with species-specific leaf area indices. This bottom-up approach incorporates systematic variations in crown height and needle age. We analyzed Hg content in 583 foliage samples from six tree species at 10 European forested research sites along a latitudinal gradient from Switzerland to northern Finland over the course of the 2018 growing season. Foliar Hg concentrations increased over time in all six tree species at all sites. We found that foliar Hg uptake rates normalized to leaf area were highest at the top of the tree crown. Foliar Hg uptake rates decreased with needle age of multiyear-old conifers (spruce and pine). Average species-specific foliar Hg uptake fluxes during the 2018 growing season were 18 ± 3 µg Hg m−2 for beech, 26 ± 5 µg Hg m−2 for oak, 4 ± 1 µg Hg m−2 for pine and 11 ± 1 µg Hg m−2 for spruce. For comparison, the average Hg(II) wet deposition flux measured at 5 of the 10 research sites during the same period was 2.3 ± 0.3 µg Hg m−2, which was 4 times lower than the site-averaged foliar uptake flux of 10 ± 3 µg Hg m−2. Scaling up site-specific foliar uptake rates to the forested area of Europe resulted in a total foliar Hg uptake flux of approximately 20 ± 3 Mg during the 2018 growing season. Considering that the same flux applies to the global land area of temperate forests, we estimate a foliar Hg uptake flux of 108 ± 18 Mg. Our data indicate that foliar Hg uptake is a major deposition pathway to terrestrial surfaces in Europe. The bottom-up approach provides a promising method to quantify foliar Hg uptake fluxes on an ecosystem scale

Climatic Controls on a Holocene Mercury Stable Isotope Sediment Record of Lake Titicaca

Mercury (Hg) records in sediment archives inform past patterns of Hg deposition and the anthropogenic contribution to global Hg cycling. Natural climate variations complicate the interpretation of past Hg accumulation rates (HgARs), warranting additional research. Here, we investigated Hg stable isotopes in a ca. 8k year-long sediment core of Lake Titicaca and combined isotopic data with organic biomarkers and biogeochemical measurements. A wet period in the early Holocene (8000-7300 BP) induced strong watershed erosion, leading to a high HgAR (20.2 ± 6.9 μg m -2 year -1 ), which exceeded the 20th century HgAR (8.4 ± 1.0 μg m -2 year -1 ). Geogenic Hg input dominated during the early Holocene ( f geog = 79%) and played a minor role during the mid- to late Holocene (4500 BP to present; f geog = 20%) when atmospheric Hg deposition dominated. Sediment Δ 200 Hg values and the absence of terrestrial lignin biomarkers suggest that direct lake uptake of atmospheric Hg(0), and subsequent algal scavenging of lake Hg, represented an important atmospheric deposition pathway (42%) during the mid- to late Holocene. During wet episodes of the late Holocene (2400 BP to present), atmospheric Hg(II) deposition was the dominant source of lake sediment Hg (up to 82%). Sediment Δ 199 Hg values suggest that photochemical reduction and re-emission of Hg(0) occurred from the lake surface. Hg stable isotopes show promise as proxies for understanding the history of Hg sources and transformations and help to disentangle anthropogenic and climate factors influencing HgAR observed in sediment archives

Solution speciation controls mercury isotope fractionation of Hg(II) sorption to goethite

The application of Hg isotope signatures as tracers for environmental Hg cycling requires the determination of isotope fractionation factors and mechanisms for individual processes. Here, we investigated Hg isotope fractionation of Hg(II) sorption to goethite in batch systems under different experimental conditions. We observed a mass-dependent enrichment of light Hg isotopes on the goethite surface relative to dissolved Hg (ε(202)Hg of -0.30‰ to -0.44‰) which was independent of the pH, chloride and sulfate concentration, type of surface complex, and equilibration time. Based on previous theoretical equilibrium fractionation factors, we propose that Hg isotope fractionation of Hg(II) sorption to goethite is controlled by an equilibrium isotope effect between Hg(II) solution species, expressed on the mineral surface by the adsorption of the cationic solution species. In contrast, the formation of outer-sphere complexes and subsequent conformation changes to different inner-sphere complexes appeared to have insignificant effects on the observed isotope fractionation. Our findings emphasize the importance of solution speciation in metal isotope sorption studies and suggest that the dissolved Hg(II) pool in soils and sediments, which is the most mobile and bioavailable, should be isotopically heavy, as light Hg isotopes are preferentially sequestered during binding to both mineral phases and natural organic matter

Source tracing of natural organic matter bound mercury in boreal forest runoff with mercury stable isotopes

Terrestrial runoff represents a major source of mercury (Hg) to aquatic ecosystems. In boreal forest catchments, such as the one in northern Sweden studied here, mercury bound to natural organic matter (NOM) represents a large fraction of mercury in the runoff. We present a method to measure Hg stable isotope signatures of colloidal Hg, mainly complexed by high molecular weight or colloidal natural organic matter (NOM) in natural waters based on pre-enrichment by ultrafiltration, followed by freeze-drying and combustion. We report that Hg associated with high molecular weight NOM in the boreal forest runoff has very similar Hg isotope signatures as compared to the organic soil horizons of the catchment area. The mass-independent fractionation (MIF) signatures (Δ; 199; Hg and Δ; 200; Hg) measured in soils and runoff were in agreement with typical values reported for atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury (Hg; 0; ) and distinctly different from reported Hg isotope signatures in precipitation. We therefore suggest that most Hg in the boreal terrestrial ecosystem originated from the deposition of Hg; 0; through foliar uptake rather than precipitation. Using a mixing model we calculated the contribution of soil horizons to the Hg in the runoff. At moderate to high flow runoff conditions, that prevailed during sampling, the uppermost part of the organic horizon (Oe/He) contributed 50-70% of the Hg in the runoff, while the underlying more humified organic Oa/Ha and the mineral soil horizons displayed a lower mobility of Hg. The good agreement of the Hg isotope results with other source tracing approaches using radiocarbon signatures and Hg : C ratios provides additional support for the strong coupling between Hg and NOM. The exploratory results from this study illustrate the potential of Hg stable isotopes to trace the source of Hg from atmospheric deposition through the terrestrial ecosystem to soil runoff, and provide a basis for more in-depth studies investigating the mobility of Hg in terrestrial ecosystems using Hg isotope signatures

Kinetics of Hg(II) exchange between organic ligands, goethite, and natural organic matter studied with an enriched stable isotope approach

The mobility and bioavailability of toxic Hg(II) in the environment strongly depends on its interactions with natural organic matter (NOM) and mineral surfaces. Using an enriched stable isotope approach, we investigated the exchange of Hg(II) between dissolved species (inorganically complexed or cysteine-, EDTA-, or NOM-bound) and solid-bound Hg(II) (carboxyl-/thiol-resin or goethite) over 30 days under constant conditions (pH, Hg and ligand concentrations). The Hg(II)-exchange was initially fast, followed by a slower phase, and depended on the properties of the dissolved ligands and sorbents. The results were described by a kinetic model allowing the simultaneous determination of adsorption and desorption rate coefficients. The time scales required to reach equilibrium with the carboxyl-resin varied greatly from 1.2 days for Hg(OH)2 to 16 days for Hg(II)-cysteine complexes and approximately 250 days for EDTA-bound Hg(II). Other experiments could not be described by an equilibrium model, suggesting that a significant fraction of total-bound Hg was present in a non-exchangeable form (thiol-resin and NOM: 53-58%; goethite: 22-29%). Based on the slow and incomplete exchange of Hg(II) described in this study, we suggest that kinetic effects must be considered to a greater extent in the assessment of the fate of Hg in the environment and the design of experimental studies, for example, for stability constant determination or metal isotope fractionation during sorption