Atmospheric CO, O3, and SO2 Measurements at the Summit of Mt. Fuji during the Summer of 2013

• Published in: Aerosol and air quality research 2016, Vol.16 (10), p.2368-2377
• Main Authors: Kato, Shungo, Shiobara, Yasuhiro, Uchiyama, Katsumi, Miura, Kazuhiko, Okochi, Hiroshi, Kobayashi, Hiroshi, Hatakeyama, Shiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1680-8584; 2071-1409
• DOI: 10.4209/aaqr.2015.11.0632

Atmospheric trace gases CO, O 3 , and SO 2 were observed at the summit of Mt. Fuji (3776 m a.s.l.) during the summer of 2013. Considerable variations were observed in the concentrations of CO and O 3 ; however, they were correlated in most cases. Trends analyzed through backward trajectory calculations showed lower concentrations of CO and O 3 transported from the Pacific Ocean and South East Asia directions, while higher concentrations were detected from the direction of the Asian continent. High O 3 and low CO concentrations were observed during some periods; in these air masses, water content of the air was low indicating that the air originated from high altitudes and was influenced by the stratosphere. Gaseous SO 2 was mostly lower than the detection limit of the instrument used for measurement (0.06 ppbv), but on August 20–21, high SO 2 spikes of about 5 ppbv were observed. Backward and forward trajectory calculations confirmed that volcanic smoke from the Sakurajima volcano was transported to the summit of Mt. Fuji.