The stratosphere holds a variety of particulate matter, such as sulfate aerosols, polar stratospheric clouds, volcanic aerosols and meteoric dust. These aerosols play a significant role in ozone depletion in the stratosphere through heterogeneous chemistry. The properties of these aerosols, including composition, size distribution, chemical reactions, and the effect of climate are surveyed, the sulfate aerosol layer can reflect solar radiation and increase the planetary albedo, therefore, cooling the surface and altering the climate. Then, the effects of anthoropogenic alteration of stratospheric aerosols on the climate are discussed. The stratospheric sulfate aerosols are produced by the oxidation of OCS vapor. Last of this paper deals with OCS distributions, absorption cross sections and photodissociation rates. It is shown that OCS absorption above 285 nm are not found under the stratospheric conditions and OCS concentration was found to be about 280 pptv from the ground to 30 km altitude. These results are not consistent with the prediction made from the sulfur-reaction cycle model by Turco et al.

View full abstract

The purpose of this study is to collect indoor air quality data for sulfur dioxide (SO₂), suspended particulate matter (SPM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen monoxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and formaldehyde (HCHO), and investigate the relationship between indoor air pollutants and environmental factors (heating, ventilation, temperature and humidity) using multiple regression analysis.
The survey was carried out five times at the same private house during the period of 10 days each in the winter seasons of 1984-1985. A kerosene fan he ater, kerosene heater, gas heater and forced flue type heater using gas were used as heating apparatus during the period in this survey.
The results are as follows:
Maxima of one hour average values of these pollutants were 0.028 ppm (SO2), 120 μg/ m³ (SPM), 0.275 ppm (NO2), over 0.5 ppm (NO), 21.0 ppm (CO), over 5, 000 ppm (CO₂) and 0.082 ppm (HCHO), respectively.
Maxima of daily average values of these pollutants were 0.012 ppm (SO2), 68 μg/m3 (SPM), 0.062 ppm (NO₂), 0.264 ppm (NO), 5.0 ppm (CO), 2, 339 ppm (CO2) and 0.047 ppm (HCHO), respectively.
Four linear multiple regression equations with 6 descriptors were formulated for NO₂ and HCHO.
Six descriptors were the amount of time the heater was used, the amount of time the ventilation was performed, the amount of time the gas range was used, the am ount of time the window remained open, room temperature and room humidity.
The high correlation was found between NO₂ and kerosene heater, kerosene fan heater and gas heater, but was not found between NO₂ and forced flue type heater using gas, and was found between HCHO and four kinds of heaters.
These equations were employed to predict the concentrations of NO₂ and HCHO, and the results were satisfactory.

View full abstract

We investigated the effect of air pollution on annual ring width of two conifer species, namely, Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc. and Cryptomeria japonica D. Don, in Kitakyushu City.
Six forest stands were chosen to collect their increment cores. Four stands were located in Kitakyushu City, where an intensity of air pollution was high in the late 1960s, and it has decreased since 1970. The rest two stands were located in Mt. Hikosan, 50 km south of the city, as the control sites. We obtained the ten to sixteen cores at each stand. The cores have ca. 50 years annual rings from 1941 to 1990.
Annual ring width was converted to normalized indices. Then the indices were analyzed by linear multiple regression to evaluate the effect of air pollution upon them. Data for climatic factors were obtained from the records of seasonal precipitation and temperature for 50 years (1941-1990), and data for air pollution were obtained from records of sulfur oxides and dust fall at Kitakyushu City for 31 years (1959-1989).
The regression of annual ring indices on the air pollution factors alone or on the climatic factors alone was compared with that on both of these factors in terms of determination coefficients. The results showed that both the air pollution factors and the climatic factors affected the annual ring width with the effect of air pollution greater than climate.

View full abstract

To gain a better insight into acid deposition-soil interaction, which is thought to be one of the major causes of the forest decline, natural forest of fir in the mountainous region (HOUMAN-SANGUN in Fukuoka) has been taken as a model field. Fir trees in this region have recently been damaged to some extent probably due to acid deposition. Samples, which include deposition and surface waters flowing down through this mountaunous region, were collected and analyzed every 2 weeks over 6 months period between 1990 and 1991. Surface soils in the forest were also examined.
The pH-value and concentrations of SO₄^2- and NH₄⁺ in the forest rain at 920 m in altitude were, on average, 4.4, 3.7μg/ml, and 0.5μg/ml, respectively. Concentrations of each ionic component were also about same as those observed in the plains in this area. The effect of deposition on the forest environment, however, should not be underestimated, because there is rainfall in the forest region of 1.44 times as much as that in the plains.
The EC-values and ionic species concentrations in the surface waters were almost constant during the monitoring period, the average pH-value was 6.3. Concentrations of Ca²+, NH₄⁺, and NO3-in the surface waters were found to be 4.8, 0.04, and 0.5 times, respectively, of those in the forest rain.
The forest surface soil, the pH-value of which was 4.1, was found to be more acidic than the forest rain and coming close to the pH region, where the buffer action of Al is caused. Cation exchange capacity of the soil was 32 meq./100g, while the total exchangeable capacity of Ca and Mg, which represents a buffer capacity of soil, was 1.23 meq./100g. In the forest soil in this region the exchangeable H was highly correlated to the exchangeable Al. These observations indicate that this forest soil is acidified, and is very sensitive to acid deposition.
The mass-balance of ionic species in this forest region during the monitoring period was taken into account, and the inputs of H and NH₄⁺ from the atmosphere as rainfalls were considerably excess over the outputs of these species to the surface water, while for Ca²⁺ and Na⁺, their outputs were over their inputs. It is noteworthy that the total equivalent of the excess outputs of Ca2+ and Na+ are almost equal to that of the excess inputs of H⁺ and NH⁴⁺. The NH₄⁺ species of atmospheric origin undergoes oxidation-denitrization in soil, and serves as a Hdonor. This means that the excess inputs of H+ are balanced by the excess outputs of Ca²⁺ and Na⁺.

View full abstract

The method uses a maximum absorbance appeared in the oxidation reaction of 2×10^-3 M chlorpromazine with 0.6 M hydrogen peroxide in 4 M phosphoric acid medium by the catalytic action iodide ion. It allows the determination of iodide down to 0.06ng/ ml (0.3 ng in reaction solution 5 ml) and has the advantages of little influence from reactant concentrations and reaction temperature, and also low interference from iron ion. The linear range of the calibration curve is 0-5ml iodide with a standard deviation of 0.02ng/ ml Iron ion up to 300ng/ ml and many other do not interfere with the determination, expect a few ions such as vanadium over 20ng/ ml, thiocyanate over 10ng/ ml, etc. This method can also be applied to the determination of iodate and periodate ions in the same manner. The contents of iodine in rain and snow collected in Kofu at time was relatively lower compared with those in the literature cited, and decreased with the elapsed time of rain and snow falls.

View full abstract

Monthly mean concentrations of gaseous ammonia in the atmosphere were monitored at 10 locations in Tokyo area by using diffusion samplers from Nov. 1985 through Mar. 1988. Average concentrations and the concentration ranges (from Max. to Min.) were 12.1ppb and 37.1-0.9ppb in Metropolitan area, 8.6ppb and 28.9-0.6ppb in Tama, 2.0ppb and 6.9ppb-ND in Oku-Tama and 7.2ppb and 11.4-2.4ppb in Ogasawara respectively. Close correlations were found between atmospheric temperature and ammonia concentrations except Tama area.
It was suggested that the high concentrations of ammonia had been concerned with human activities.

View full abstract

Volumetric methods are proposed for simple determination of sulfate ion in rain. Lead (II) nitrate and dithizone are used as titrant and indicator, respectively, and the end point is determined either visually or photometrically. Recovery, precision, and effect of foreign ions on determination of sulfate ion by the methods were studied, and compared with those by the turbidimetry and ion chromatography. Analytical results of rain samples from Sichuan, China by the visual titration are shown together with those by the turbidimetry. The proposed methods, especially the visual titration has advantages of simplicity, rapidity, and suitability for routine analysis, and requires no expensive equipment.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract