Bioaerosol sampling at the stratosphere using scientific balloons

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26506020
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: 宇宙生命学
• Research Institution: Chiba Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: OHNO Sohsuke 千葉工業大学, 惑星探査研究センター, 上席研究員 (80432631)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: アストロバイオロジー / 惑星科学 / 成層圏 / 極限環境微生物 / 気球実験 / インパクター / エアロゾル / バイオエアロゾル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We carried out a scientific project named “Biopause” using JAXA’s scientific balloons in order to grasp the dynamics of biological flux in the stratosphere, i.e. the lower middle atmosphere, comprehensively. Our first balloon experiment was conducted on June 8, 2016 and collected aerosol particles in the stratosphere using a newly developed descending inertial impactor. We estimated the number density of the stratospheric microbes including the unculturable ones for the first time in the world. In this paper, we summarize of the balloon experiment and the initial results of the sample analysis.

Free Research Field

地球惑星科学