Climate‐Induced Variability in Sedimentary Mercury Deposition in the Southern Scotia Sea, Antarctic Zone, Over the Last 35 Kyr

Sedimentary mercury records from the southern Scotia Sea over the past 35 Kyr reveal a close link between climate change and Hg deposition. Despite higher Holocene productivity, Hg levels and fluxes were greater in the glacial period, indicating primary production alone does not control Hg accumulation. Hg deposition is likely controlled by dissolved Hg availability, affected by climate‐driven sea‐ice dynamics, photochemical‐microbial reduction, and oceanic evasion. Isotopic signals show atmospheric Hg dominance during the Holocene, while glacial Hg likely originated from erosion of weathered bedrocks. Our study improves understanding of Hg cycling in polar regions, with implications for the future.