The seasonal variations of the chemical components in airborne aerosols in a mountainous area were investigated. Field observations were made at Happo at an altitude of 1,850m in the central mountainous region of Japan. Airborne aerosol was collected for 12hours or 24hours from May 1998 to September 1999 and the chemical components (Na+, Mg2+, K+, Ca2+, NH4+, Cl-, SO42-, NO3- and oxalic acid) in the aerosol were measured. In addition, gaseous pollutants, such as ozone and SO2 were monitored simultaneously. The concentrations of Na+ were much higher from autumn to spring than those in summer. Cl- increased in winter and the seasonal variation differed from Na+. The concentrations of Mg2+, K+ and Ca2+, especially Ca2+ increased in spring. It suggests that the increase in this Ca2+ concentration is based on the influence of Kosa aerosol (yellow sand) transported from continental Asia. The concentrations of SO42- and oxalic acid produced by photochemical reaction increased from spring to summer, and NH4+ which is the neutralization ingredient of sulfuric acid showed also the same seasonal variation. The concentration ratios of Cl-/Na+ were quite low compared with that of sea water. This is based on Cl- loss reaction. There was almost no influence of sea salt in the mountainous area, because most of K+, Ca2+ and SO42- were non-sea salt. The sulfate conversion ratio, i.e., SO42- -[S]/(SO2-[S] + SO42--[S]), was as high as 0.8 in summer. In summer and winter, when the concentration of SO42- was high, total equivalent concentration of anions (Cl-, NO3- and SO42-) was much higher than that of cations (Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+), which suggests that a portion of the SO42- existed in the form of acidic aerosols such as H3SO4 and NH4HSO4. It suggests that a part of sulfuric acid produced by the photochemical reaction is transported to the mountainous area without being neutralized by alkali substances, such as NH3.

The potential for air pollution from industrial sources to reach wilderness areas throughout the Northwestern United States is approximated from monthly mean emissions, along with wind speeds and directions. A simple index is derived to estimate downwind concentration. Maps of pollution potential were generated for each pollution component (particulates, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and ammonia), months representing each season (January, April, July, and October), and each of three vertical levels: surface, 850 mb, and 700 mb. Mixing heights for the last 40 years are used to help determine which trajectory levels best represent each month. Wind frequencies for the same period help show variability and inherent uncertainty in using mean monthly data for pollution-potential estimates.