Changes in Air Temperatures on Mount Fuji, Japan

doi:10.4236/acs.2011.14020

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Atmospheric and Climate Sciences, 2011, 1, 186-188

doi:10.4236/acs.2011.14020 Published Online October 2011 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/acs)

Changes in Air Temperatures on Mount Fuji, Japan

Noriko Sakano, Nobuyuki Miyatake*, Shoko Murakami

Department of Hygi ene, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki, Kagawa, Japan

E-mail: *[email protected]

Received August 2, 2011; revised September 16, 20 1 1; acce p t ed Septembe r 25, 2011

Abstract

The changes in air temperatures on Mount (Mt.) Fuji, Japan were evaluated. Various parameters of air tem-

peratures on Mt. Fuji in Japan were obtained from Japan Metrological Agency. Parameters of air tempera-

tures were positively correlated with years on Mt. Fuji. In addition, the number of days under –24˚C in Janu-

ary was negatively correlated with years. Global warming was also proved on Mt. Fuji in Japan, especially in

winter. Therefore, we need to deal with global warming effect.

Keywords: Air Temperature, Mount Fuji, Global Warming

1. Introduction

Global average temperatures are predicted to increase by

the end of this century. An increase in mortality related

to heat waves has been reported from various industrial-

ized countries [1]. We have showed that higher air tem-

perature was closely associated with higher ambulance

transports in Takamatsu [2] and Okayama [3] areas, Ja-

pan. In addition, we have also reported that positive

changes in air temperatures were noted in some Japanese

areas [4,5]. However, global warming was not proved at

Showa base in Antarctica. In addition, the number of

days of over 4˚C in January was negatively correlated

with years (r = –0.427, p = 0.0053) [6]. Therefore,

whether an increase in air temperatures is actually in-

creasing in the world remains to be investigated. Mount

(Mt.) Fuji (3775.63 m) is the highest mountain in Japan

and the parameters of air temperatures have been moni-

tored. Therefore, we evaluated the chronological changes

in air temperatures on Mt. Fuji, Japan.

2. Methods

Daily air temperatures at a meteorological observatory

on Mt. Fuji (1965-2009) were obtained from Japan Me-

teorological Agency [7]. A meteorological observatory

on Mt. Fuji is located almost top of the mountain. Mean

air temperature, mean of the highest air temperatures and

mean of the lowest air temperatures in January, August

and a year were used for analysis. Daily data of air tem-

perature in August, 1970 were could not obtain. In addi-

tion, the chan ges in the number of days under variou s air

temperatures in January and those over various air tem-

peratures in August were also used for analysis.

Simple correlation analysis was used to test the sig-

nificance of the linear relationship among continuous

variables: p < 0.05 was considered to be statistically sig-

nificant.

3. Results

Mean air temperature, mean of the highest air tempera-

tures and mean of the lowest a ir temperatures in a year on

Mt. Fuji were significantly correlated with years (mean air

temperature in a year: r = 0.500, p = 0.0005) (Table 1,

Figure 1). From single regression line, estimated positive

change in mean air te mperature in a year for 50 years was

corresponded to 1.3℃ on Mt. Fuji , Japan.

In addition, the relation between years and the number

of days over various air temperatures in August, and be-

tween years and the number of days under various air

temperatures in January were also evaluated. The number

of days of under –24˚C in January was negatively corre-

lated with years (Table 2, Figure 2). However, the num-

ber of days over various air temperatures was not corre-

lated with years in August.

4. Discussion

Although global war ming was not proved at Showa ba se

in Antarctica [6], clinical impact of global warming ef-

fect on Mt. Fuji was noted in this study. Especially, the

number of days under –24˚C in January was significantly

reduced. Bai et al. showed that the number of unusual

187

N. SAKANO ET AL.

Table 1. Relationship between parameters of air temperature and years on Mt. Fuji (1965-2009).

January August Year

r p r p r p

Mean air temperature 0.213 0.1594 0.193 0.2104 0.500 0.0005

Mean of the highest air temperature 0.170 0.2649 0.110 0.4772 0.374 0.0124

Mean of the lowest air temperature 0.229 0.1310 0.259 0.0899 0.381 0.0108

Table 2. Relationship betwee n ye ars and various levels of temperature in January and August on Mt. Fuji.

January August

ｒ

ｐ

ｒ

ｐ

 –21˚C –0.188 0.2163 8˚C



0.064 0.6817

–22˚C –0.192 0.2056 9˚C



0.016 0.9160

 –23˚C –0.272 0.0710 10˚C



–0.113 0.4665

 –24˚C –0.336 0.0239 11˚C



0.008 0.9577

 –25˚C –0.328 0.0276 12˚C



0.064 0.6671

Mean air temperature in a year

˚C

n = 44

r =0.500

p =0.0005

y = 0.026x –57. 541

–8.5

–8

–7.5

–7

–6.5

–6

–5.5

–5

–4.5

1960 1970 19801990 20002010

Yea

Figure 1. Simple correlation analysis between mean air

temperature in a year and y ears on Mt. Fuji (1965-2009).

Number of days under -24℃in Januar y

n = 45

r = –0.336

p = 0.0239

y = –0.110x + 228.717

19601970 19801990 20002010

Year

Figure 2 Simple correlation analysis between the number of

days under –24˚C in January and years on Mt. Fuji

(1965-2009).

deaths in the summer of 1994 in Osaka, Japan was more

compared to those of previous years [7]. Qiu et al. also

reported that an unu sually h ot spell in 199 9 was followed

by a high mortality rate in Hokkaido, Japan [8]. The

world may be a very different place today than it was

only a short period ago. Also in Japan, urbanization and

industrialization seems to be accelerated.

In conclusion, in this study, the evidence of global

warming was also proved on Mt. Fuji, especially in win-

ter, which is the highest mountain in Japan. Therefo re, it

seems reasonable to suggest that simply dealing with

global warming effect i.e. innovation of the thermal en-

ergy metabolism in cities and individual coping with

high air temperatures is urgently required in Japan.

5. Acknowledgements

This research was supported in part by Research Grants

from Fukutake Science and Culture Foundation, Japan.

6. References

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[2] N. Miyatake, M. Nakao, N. Sakano, S. Suna, T. Suzue

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N. SAKANO ET AL.

188

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[7] Japan Meteorological Agency, 2010.

http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/index

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