Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2015

Presentation information

Oral

Symbol H (Human Geosciences) » H-TT Technology & Techniques

[H-TT31] New development of environmental traceability methods

Wed. May 27, 2015 2:15 PM - 4:00 PM 304 (3F)

Convener:*Takanori Nakano(Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Inter-University Research Institute Corporation National Institutes for the Humanities), Ichiro Tayasu(Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University), Chair:Takanori Nakano(Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Inter-University Research Institute Corporation National Institutes for the Humanities)

3:21 PM - 3:24 PM

[HTT31-P03] Estimating source of atmospheric aerosols by Sr and Pb isotopes in Noto peninsula, Japan

3-min talk in an oral session

*Shota KATO1, Atsushi MATSUKI2, Ki-cheol SHIN3, Takanori NAKANO3 (1.Graduate School of Natural Science & Technology Kanazawa University, 2.Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology Kanazawa University, 3.The Research Institute for Humanity and Nature)

Keywords:Sr-Pb isotopes, Sakurajima volcanic eruption, Transboundry air pollution, Air pollution in summer

Due to the prevailing high pressure system in the Pacific, it has been generally accepted that the air quality near the ground surface of central Japan is relatively unaffected by the polluted air-mass originating from the continent. However, there is increasing number of observations reporting high PM2.5 episodes even in summer periods. With respect to the origin of such high PM2.5 episodes, it has been suggested that the polluted continental air-mass may reach the region even in summer especially when certain condition of atmospheric pressure pattern is met. However, it may also be partly explained by the particles originating from domestic volcanoes (e.g. Sakurajima) which are increasingly active in recent years. Therefore, the exact source and contribution responsible for such high PM2.5 episodes remain controversial.
Stable isotopes of Sr and Pb are powerful tools for fingerprinting as the source areas because minerals and rocks have distinct isotopic ratios depending on their geological development. Also, these isotopes are relatively unaltered by the weathering, transportation, and deposition. Thus, Sr and Pb isotopes are useful tools to estimate source of atmospheric aerosols. In this study, we present the Sr and Pb isotopic ratios of the aerosols collected in Noto peninsula, Japan in July 2014, in order to identify the sources of atmospheric aerosols.
The sampling site is NOTO Ground-based Research Observatory (NOTOGRO) at 37⁰45'N, 137⁰36'E. All of the samples were collected weekly on the roof of a building (about 15 m high) using a High-volume air sampler (AH-600F, SHIBATA) with a constant flow rate of 700 L/min. Only the coarse fraction exceeding 2.5 μm in diameter was collected on a 12.6 × 16.6 cm2 SiO2 filter through an impactor. Filters samples were extracted with 5% HOAc solution. Residual fraction after extraction with HOAc were digested in HF-HCl-HNO3 solution. Isotopic ratios of Sr and Pb were measured using a Thermo Scientific Neptune multicollector-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS).
The HOAc-leachate materials are characterized by low 87Sr/86Sr ratios and approach to sea salt value of approximately 0.70918, whereas the HOAc-residue materials have high 87Sr/86Sr ratios. In addition, sample of 16 July (collected from 9 to 16 July) have the highest value and similar to values observed in north China which was indicated to be 0.71432 on average (Nakano et al., 2004), providing strong support that the continental air-mass may reach Japan even in the summer season.