A Case Study on the Input-Output Balance of Sulfur in a Catchment Area in Japan

• Published in: Journal of Japan Society for Atmospheric Environment / Taiki Kankyo Gakkaishi Vol. 43; no. 1; pp. 23 - 30
• Main Authors: Aikawa, Masahide, Umemoto, Satoshi, Komai, Yukio, Hiraki, Takatoshi, Tokuchi, Naoko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Society for Atmospheric Environment 2008; 公益社団法人 大気環境学会
• Subjects: Cloud water; Dry deposition; Input-output balance; Precipitation; Stream water; Sulfur
• ISSN: 1341-4178; 2185-4335
• DOI: 10.11298/taiki1995.43.23

The input-output balance of sulfur was studied in a catchment area in Japan. Precipitation (collected using a wet-only sampler), cloud water, and sulfur dioxide (SO2(g)) and particulate sulfate (SO42-(p)) in ambient air were considered agents providing input to the catchment area, while stream water was considered an agent carrying output from the catchment area. The input amounts of sulfur by precipitation, cloud water, and SO2(g) and SO42-(p) in ambient air were approximately 1900, 5100, and 270 and 80 kgS during the survey period, respectively, equivalent to 6.2, 23.2, and 1.5 and 0.45kgS/ha/year, respectively. However, the output amount of sulfur by the stream water was approximately 5900 kgS for the period from April 21st 1999 to April 22nd 2000, equivalent to 13.7 kgS/ha/year. The input was approximately 2 times greater than the output, showing that the excessive load and the accumulation of the sulfur are advanced around the catchment area.