Abstract
We study the stratospheric solid particles collected at 24 km altitude over Japan using a balloonborne impactor. The elemental compositions of 200 particles (1-30μm in diameter) are analyzed with an energy-dispersive X-ray analyzer. The size distribution and concentration of the particles are also assessed. In our sample, particles rich in Al are rarely found. Since the predominance of Alrich particles were frequently observed in previous samplings, it is suggested that the composition of stratospheric solid particles varies greatly as a function of time, location and/or altitude. On the other hand, we have found 14 particles composed of Cr, Fe and Ni. These particles (probably, most of the other particles as well) are considered to have been transported from the ground to the stratosphere through convective clouds.
