Determination of chemical elements in deposition on the Western North Pacific

Shipboard sampling was performed for the evaluation of the deposition amount of chemical species on the southwestern section of the North Pacific, utilizing simple plastic samplers fixed on the upper decks of research vessels of the Japan Meteorological Agency on their routine meteorological and oceanographical cruises from 1988 to 1990. The deposition of nss-sulfate (non-seasalt sulfate, calculated from the concentration of sodium) was found to be high in the western Japan Sea, East China Sea and southern sea adjacent to the Japanese Islands. In the Mariana Sea and the equatorial area, the lowest values were constantly observed in the summer of those 3 years. Values a little higher, but much lower than in the Japan Sea or East China Sea, were measured off the Philippine Islands. The deposition amounts of crustal elements such as silicon, aluminum and iron showed similar tendencies but with some difference in detail.