Observations of ice nucleating particles from unculturable microbes in the free troposphere

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K14793
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 17020:Atmospheric and hydrospheric sciences-related
• Research Institution: Center for Environmental Science in Saitama (2021); University of Shizuoka (2019-2020)
• Principal Investigator: Murata Kotaro 埼玉県環境科学国際センター, 大気環境担当, 技師 (30740104)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 氷晶核 / バイオエアロゾル / 富士山

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Ice-nucleating particles in the free troposphere were measured at the summit of Mt.Fuji, and the fraction of biogenic origin was estimated. A device for measuring ice-nucleating particles was constructed and applied to test observations in 2019 and full-scale observations in 2021. The measurements revealed characteristic variations in the ice-nucleating particle concentrations in the free troposphere around the summit of Mt. Fuji. A potential function of the surface deposits of Mt. Fuji as ice-nucleating particles was also evaluated. The results showed that mineral and biogenic particles derived from the surface deposits contributed to the ice-nucleating particle concentrations in the atmosphere.

Free Research Field

大気科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

自由対流圏高度での大気中氷晶核および生物起源氷晶核の観測は世界的に少なく、とくに東アジアにはほとんどない。本研究により、不足している東アジアでの上空データを補間できる点で学術的意義がある。また、氷晶核の観測データを得ることは、雲物理や降水形成への理解を進展させ、将来的に気象や気候の予測精度を向上させる点において社会的意義があるといえる。