Japan Society for the Promotion of Science:Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
Date (from‐to) : 2017/04 -2020/03
Author : Igarashi Yasuhito
It is usual understanding that rainfall removes aerosols from the air. However, the question of whether rain plays a role in releasing aerosols to the air has been posed recently. In the present study, we found outbreak of radioCs-bearing aerosols in a contaminated Japanese forest due to rain. We carried out general radioactive aerosol observations in a typical mountainous village area within the exclusion zone in Fukushima. We also sampled according to the weather (rain or fine) inside a forest to better understand the process. Thus, we know that rain enhances/induces bursts of radioCs-bearing aerosols in forests. With further investigations, we confirmed that the fungal spore sources in the rainy weather seem to be different from those in the fine weather. Larger fungal particles (possibly conidia-ascospore) are emitted during rain than during fine weather, suggesting that the rain-splash mechanism for mold-like fungi could be the major mechanism.