Annual Contribution of Volcanic Sulfur Dioxide Emissions to the Atmosphere in Japan

Abstract

The amount of sulfur dioxide emission from volcanoes in Japan was estimated. The annual emissionrates of sulfur dioxide from eruptive and non-eruptive volcanoes were estimated by combining available spectroscopic measurements data from 1976 through 1989 with the empirical volcanic classification. Estimated total emission from volcanoes to the atmosphere was about 1.1 Tg/y, which is almost equal to the recent man-made emission in Japan. Regional emission around the Kyushu Island, one of the most active volcanic areas, exceeds 0.8 Tg/y. This is about 5 times higher in magnitude than the rece nt man-made emission in this area. Among these volcanoes, the contribution of Sakurajima Volcano is the most important.