Relationship between Distribution of Gaseous Pollutants and Vital Degree of Pine and Broad-leaved Tree Species on the Mt. Gokurakuji, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

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  • NAEMURA Akihiko
    Graduate School of Biosphere Sciences
  • NAKANE Kaneyuki
    Department of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University
  • SAKUGAWA Hiroshi
    Department of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University
  • FUKUOKA Yoshitaka
    Department of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University

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Other Title
  • 広島県極楽寺山におけるガス状汚染物質の動態とマツ・広葉樹の樹木活力度との相関関係
  • ヒロシマケン ゴクラクジサン ニ オケル ガスジョウ オセン ブッシツ ノ ド

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Abstract

In recent years, relationship between the forest decline and atmospheric pollution including as acid rain and acid fog has been frequently reported. The major air pollutants are NO2, SO2, and O3, and thus the measurement of these gases within forest areas is very essential to determine the effect of air pollution to forest. In this study, the spatial concentration distribution of atmospheric pollutants such as NO2, SO2, and O3 was investigated on the southern (polluted area) and northern (unpolluted area) slopes of the Mt. Gokurakuji, Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan. Each concentration level of these pollutants was measured using the molecular diffusion samplers with a vertical interval of 50 m or 100 m. Highest concentration of NO2 was detected at an altitude of 100-200 m on the southern slope, and the concentration decreased as the altitude increased. However, the NO2 concentration was constantly low on the northern slopes. Furthermore, it was estimated that the NO2 concentration was closely related to the land and sea breezes. A measurable concentration of SO2 was detected at a low altitude on the southern slope. Highest concentration of O3 was detected at the summit of the mountain, and the concentration was lowest at the low altitude. Apart from air pollutant measurement, we also investigated the vital degree of several tree species. The mortality of Pinus densiflora, the percentage of expanded leaves and the mortality of Prunus spp. and the percentage of unshed leaves of Eurya japonica were measured at the same sites where the measurement of air pollutants was conducted. It was found that the mortality of Pinus densiflora were high, but the percentage of unshed leaves of Eurya japonica were low in the lower altitude area on the southern slope, and the decline of pine forests advanced much due to the multiple pollution of NO2 and SO2. The percentage of expanded leaves and the mortality of Prunus spp. was not closely related with NO2 concentration, however, the mortality showed a clear difference between the southern and northern slopes.

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