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Trends on Temperature and Precipitation Extreme Events in Korea  

Choi, Young-Eun (Dept. of Geography, Konkuk University)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korean Geographical Society / v.39, no.5, 2004 , pp. 711-721 More about this Journal
Abstract
The aim of this study is to clarify whether frequency and/or severity of extreme climate events have changed significantly in Korea during recent years. Using the best available daily data, spatial and temporal aspects of ten climate change indicators are investigated on an annual and seasonal basis for the periods of 1954-1999. A systematic increase in the $90^{th}$ percentile of daily minimum temperatures at most of the analyzed areas has been observed. This increase is accompanied by a similar reduction in the number of frost days and a significant lengthening of the thermal growing season. Although the intra-annual extreme temperature range is based on only two observations, it provides a very robust and significant measure of declining extreme temperature variability. The five precipitation-related indicators show no distinct changing patterns for spatial and temporal distribution except for the regional series of maximum consecutive dry days. Interestingly, the regional series of consecutive dry days have increased significantly while the daily rainfall intensity index and the fraction of annual total precipitation due to events exceeding the $95^{th}$ percentile for 1901-1990 normals have insignificantly increased.
Keywords
temperature and precipitation extremes; climate change indicators; frost days; thermal growing season length; intra-annual extreme temperature range; maximum consecutive dry days;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
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