A study of the atmospheric boundary layer using radon and air pollutants as tracers

Toshio Kataoka, Eiji Yunoki, Mitsuo Shimizu, Tadashige Mori, Osamu Tsukamoto, Yukitaka Ohashi, Ken Sahashi, Toshihiko Maitani, Koh’ichi Miyashita, Toru Iwata, Yoko Fujikawa, Akira Kudo, Roger H. Shaw

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Concentrations of radon 222Rn and air pollutants, meteorological parameters near the surface and vertical profiles of meteorological elements were measured at Uchio (Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan) 12 km north from the coast of the Inland Sea of Japan. In the nighttime, the 222Rn concentration increased in the case of weak winds, but did not increase as much in the case of moderate or strong winds, as had been expected. In the daytime, the 222Rn concentration held at a slightly higher than average level for the period from sunrise to about 1 100 JST. It is considered that this phenomenon is due to a period of morning calm, that is, a transition period from land breeze to sea breeze. NO, which is sensitive to traffic volume, brought information concerning advection. Oxidant concentrations, which reflect the availability of sunlight, acted in the reverse manner to 222Rn concentrations. Thus, a set of 222Rn and air pollutants could provide useful information regarding the local conditions of the atmospheric boundary layer.

Original languageEnglish
Article number350414
Pages (from-to)131-155
Number of pages25
JournalBoundary-Layer Meteorology
Volume101
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 1 2001

Keywords

  • Concentration of air pollutants
  • Inversion layer
  • Land and sea breezes
  • Mixing layer
  • Morning and evening calms
  • Rn concentration

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atmospheric Science

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