ANALYSIS OF LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTED ACID AEROSOL IN RIME FOUND AT KYUSHU MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS, JAPAN

Rime-ice and snow samples were collected at mountain sites in Kyushu, Japan during the winter of 1994, and both soluble and insoluble substa nces in the melted rime-ice were analyzed by ion chromatography, induc tively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) and analytical electr on microscopy, in order to find the evidences of long-range transport of air pollutants from the cities of the East Asian region. The relati onships between Al, which is most often used as an index of soil compo nents, and other elements were examined. The positive correlation was found between Al and three elements (Ti, Mn, Ba). Therefore, behaviors of these elements in rime-ice may be similar to that of soil particle s. Furthermore, it was possible to classify the elements into three gr oups with the relation between a lead isotope ratio and concentration ratio of lead and zinc (Pb/Zn). In addition, numbers of particles were found in the rime-ice. The particles around 1 mu m in diameter were c onsidered to be the combustion products of coal whose Pb/Zn were simil ar to that of previous survey report in Korea. The existent forms of c hemical species in rime-ice will become an important factor, when we c onsider the origin of air pollutants transported over long distances i n the East Asian region.