Effects of Climate Change on Outdoor Water Activity : The Case of Hangang Park Swimming Pool in Seoul

기후변화가 야외 물놀이 활동에 미치는 영향 : 한강시민공원 수영장을 대상으로

The aim of this study is to find preferred climate condition for outdoor water activity and to estimate future change of preferred season for the activity following the climate change. We chose urban public swimming pools, Hangang park swimming pools, which do not have any attractions except pools and allow people to make decision to visit pools in the morning solely based on the weather conditions as study sites. We identified the preferred climate conditions by analyzing the relationship between number of visitors and temperature, wind chill temperature and discomfort indexes. According to the result, the preferred temperature range was from $23.51^{\circ}C$ to $37.56^{\circ}C$, the wind chill temperature range was from $25.90^{\circ}C$ to $39.43^{\circ}C$, the discomfort index range was from 71.61 to 88.98 and the precipitation range was below 22.8 mm per day. When the temperature range is applied as the preferred season, in present, the length of the season is 127 days, from end of May to end of September. However, if temperature increase resulting from lower emission scenario (RCP 6.0), the season would be extended to 162 days, from early May to middle of October. If temperature is increasing under high emission scenario (RCP 8.5), the length of the season would be extended to 173 days from early May to end of October. In addition, the period of between end of July and early August, which is currently the most preferred season, would not be favored anymore due to high temperature. The result of this study further suggests the necessity of climate change adaptation activities.