Microorganisms of the Upper Atmosphere

Abstract

The viable micropopulation found, at altitude over a city, in a land air mass was significantly higher than that found in a marine-influenced air mass. The percentage distribution of bacteria and fungi was approximately equal in both types of air masses. This indicates that, under the conditions of the experiment, the marine air mass was influenced by the land area over which it traveled during passage from its source to the sampling area. Activities taking place within the city significantly increased the micropopulation at altitude. This increase was quantitatively so small that it was not identifiable when the micropopulation moving into the city was high—as in a land air mass—but was recognizable when the micropopulation was low—as in a marine-influenced air mass. The modification of the micropopulation at altitude by temperature inversions was shown.