The record of sedimentary spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCPs) in Beppu Bay, southern Japan, compared to historical trends of industrial activity and atmospheric pollution: Further evidence for SCPs as a marker for Anthropocene industrialization

Abstract

Spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCPs) are carbonaceous fly ash particles produced solely from industrial fossil fuel combustion. SCPs in sediments can be an indicator of past industrialization. We examined the sedimentary SCP record in Beppu Bay, southern Japan, and compared this record to historical trends of industrial activity and monitoring data for atmospheric pollutions in the region. Beppu Bay has varved sediments in the absence of bioturbation, providing an ideal situation for SCP study. Our results show that the temporal variation of SCP deposition is consistent with the trends of industrial activity and the temporal variation of status of atmospheric pollution. We conclude that undisturbed sediments such as Beppu Bay sediments have SCP records that adequately represent historical trends of industrial activity and atmospheric pollution in detail. These findings support that SCPs are a potential marker for the Anthropocene, characterized by industrialization.