Atmospheric Environment in rim-Japan sea areas:
Transformation of KOSA particles suggesting
changes in air quality over the Japan sea
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It is large advantage, to observe atmospheric environment of east Asia
and west Pacific areas, that the Japan Islands is in the east side of the
Asian continent and Japan sea is between the continent and islands. Changes
in characterization of continental air-masses over the ocean (or marine
air over the continent) have been investigated from the view point of water
budget and/or cycle, and considered as typical one of air-quality change.
However, in addition to water, various atmospheric constituents, especially
Kosa particles (Asian dust particles), attract many scientists’ interest,
since Kosa particles have been frequently, found in Asian continental air-masses
and recognized as effective tracer of the constituents originated in the
Asian continent. The surface processes on the Kosa particles also become
great concern since biogeochemical cycles of sulfur and/or nitrogen in
the east Asia and west Pacific areas are possibly disturbed by Kosa particles,
and consequently Kosa particles make important contribution to climate
changes and/or global warming in those areas.
Various type field measurements including aircraft- and balloon-borne measurements have been made in China, Korea, and Japan to obtain better understanding of microphysical processes on Kosa particle surface, deposition processes and mass flux of Kosa particles on the Japan sea and others, and long-range transport of Kosa particles.
