• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.77-90
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• 2022

Despite the decreasing trend of anthropogenic emissions in East Asia in recent years, haze days still frequently occur in spring. Atmospheric blocking, which occurs frequently in the northeastern Pacific, leads to persistent changes in large-scale circulation and blocks westerly flow in the East Asian region. During March 2019, frequent warm and stagnant synoptic meteorological conditions over East Asia were accompanied 6-7 days later by the Alaskan atmospheric blocking. The Alaskan atmospheric blocking over the period of March 18-24, 2019 led to high particulate matter (PM₁₀) severe haze days exceeding a daily average of 50 ㎍ m^-3 over the period of March 25-28, 2019 in South Korea. Although the high-PM₁₀ severe haze days were caused by warm and stagnant meteorological conditions, the regional contribution of anthropogenic emissions in eastern China was calculated to be 30-40% using the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem). The major regional contributions of PM₁₀ aerosols in the period of high-PM₁₀ severe haze days were as follows: nitrates, 20-25%; sulphates, 10-15%; ammonium, 5-10%; and other inorganics, 15-20%. Ammonium nitrate generated via gas-to-aerosol conversion in a warm and stagnant atmosphere largely contributed to the regional transport of PM₁₀ aerosols in the high-PM₁₀ severe haze days in South Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.73-86
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• 2011

Haze phenomena were analyzed to assess the impact of long range transport process on the air quality of Seoul and Busan. We statistically classified haze days observed in both Seoul and Busan into two types of haze cases: stagnant case and long-range transport case, and analyzed the air pollutant levels comparatively for each of the two cases for the period of 2000~2007. The results showed that the long-range transport haze case occurs less frequently with the occurrence frequency of 35.5% than stagnant case with the occurrence frequency of 64.5%. During the observed all haze days, all pollutants have high concentration in comparison with those under other meteorological conditions (Rain, Mist, Dust, Clear, Rain+Mist) except for only $PM_{10}$ of Dust case where its level shows highest among total 6 categorized conditions. The long range transport haze case shows similar levels of $PM_{10}$ and $NO_2$, but higher $SO_2$ and lower $O_3$ compared with stagnant haze cases, suggesting the importance of sulfur chemistry for long range transport haze case and local photochemistry for stagnant haze case. In addition, by employing the NOAA/HYSPLIT-4 backward trajectory model, we subdivided the long range transport haze cases into two different sources: urban anthropogenic high emission areas of central China, and natural emission sources over north China and/or Mongolia. The former long range transport haze case shows higher occurrence (with Seoul 70% and Busan 85%) than the latter haze case (with Seoul 30% and Busan <10%). This is also implying that the long haze phenomena occurred over Korea have been influenced by not only the anthropogenic emissions but also the natural dust emissions. These both emission sources can be good contributors in calculating the source-receptor relationship over Korean atmospheric environment.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.761-772
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• 2020

This research investigated the meteorologically relevant characteristics of high PM_2.5 episodes in Busan. The number of days when daily mean PM₁₀ concentration exceeded 100 ㎍/㎥ and the PM_2.5 concentration exceeded 50 ㎍/㎥ over the last four years in Busan were 24 and 58, respectively. Haze occurrence frequency was 37.6% in winter, 27.4% in spring, 18.6% in fall, and 16.4% in summer. Asian dust occurrence frequency was 81.8% in spring, 9.1% in fall and winter, and 0% in summer. During summer in Busan, high PM_2.5 episode occurred under the following meteorological conditions. 1) Daytime sea breeze. 2) Mist and haze present throuout the day. 3) Anti-cyclone located around the Korean peninsula. 4) Stable layer formed in the lower atmosphere. 5) Air parcel reached Busan by local transport rather than by long-range transport. These results indicate that understanding the meteorological relevance of high PM_2.5 episodes could provide insight for establishing a strategy to control urban air quality.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.313-321
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• 2017

$PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ were collected at the Gosan Site on Jeju Island from 2013 to 2015, and their ionic and elemental species were analyzed to examine the variations in their chemical compositional characteristics related to different meteorological conditions. Concentrations of nss-$SO_4{^{2-}}$ and $NH_4{^+}$ were respectively 6.5 and 4.7 times higher in the fine particle mode ($PM_{2.5}$) compared to the coarse particle mode ($PM_{10-2.5}$), however $NO_3{^-}$ concentrations were 2.4 times higher in the coarse mode compared to the fine particle mode. During Asian dust days, the concentrations of nss-$Ca^{2+}$ and $NO_3{^-}$ increased to 8.2 and 5.0 times higher in $PM_{10}$, and 3.5 and 6.0 times higher in $PM_{2.5}$, respectively. During haze days, the concentrations of secondary pollutants increased by 3.1-4.7 and 3.2-7.9 in $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$, respectively, and they were, respectively, 1.2-2.1 and 0.9-2.1 times higher on mist days. The aerosols were acidified largely by sulfuric and nitric acids, and neutralized mainly by ammonia in the fine particle mode during the haze days, but neutralized by calcium carbonate in coarse particle mode during the Asian dust days. Clustered back trajectory analysis showed that concentrations of nss-$SO_4{^{2-}}$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $NH_4{^+}$ were relatively high when air masses travelled from China.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.223-238
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• 2015

The $PM_{2.1}$ was collected by LVCI (low volume cascade impactor) during Group-A Period (September 1990 to December 2012) and the $PM_{2.5}$ was collected by HVAS (high volume air sampler) during Group-B Period (September 2009 to April 2012) at Kyung Hee University, Global Campus located on the boarder of Yongin and Suwon. The 8 water-soluble ions ($Na^+$, $NH_4{^+}$, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Cl^-$, $ NO_3{^-}$, and $SO_4{^{2-}}$) were analyzed by IC, and the 14 inorganic elements (Al, Mn, Si, Fe, Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, V, Cd, Ba, Zn, Ti, Ag) were analyzed by XRF and ICP-AES after performing proper pre-treatments of each sample filter. The average total mass fractions of $SO_4{^{2-}}$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $NH_4{^+}$+ to $PM_{2.5}$ samples during Group-B Period were 0.39 in normal days, 0.44 in haze days, and 0.27 in Asian dust days, respectively; however, the average total mass fractions of Al, Fe, and Si to $PM_{2.5}$ mass were 0.043 in normal days, 0.021 in haze days, and 0.036 in Asian dust days, respectively. Especially the concentration of Pb was significantly decreased during Group-B Period rather than during Group-A Period, while Cr and Ni was increased during Group-B Period. In this study, we intensively compared the annual and seasonal patterns of major chemical species among normal days, haze days, and Asian dust days. Further we developed mass fraction profiles by collecting episode cases of haze days and Asian dust days, which were consisting of 22 chemical species. Those profiles are considered to be useful when applying various receptor models and establishing air quality management plans near future.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.213-222
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• 2014

The atmospheric aerosols of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ were collected at Gosan site of Jeju Island during 2012- 2013. Their ionic and elemental species were analyzed in order to examine the composition variation of the haze aerosols in accordance with the pathway of air mass. The concentrations of $nss-SO_4{^{2-}}$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $NH_4{^+}$ increased 2.1~3.7 times in coarse particle and 3.1~6.5 times in fine particle modes, respectively, showing especially high $NO_3{^-}$ concentrations in fine particles during the haze days. The concentrations of S, Zn, Pb and K increased 3.0~5.6 times in coarse particles and 3.2~7.7 times in fine particles during the haze days, on the other hand Al, Fe, and Ca concentrations were high only in coarse particles. Due to the back trajectory analysis, the concentrations of $nss-SO_4{^{2-}}$ and $NO_3{^-}$ for haze days were high when the inflow pathway of air mass was from China, especially a high increase of $NO_3{^-}$ as through the south of China. The $NO_3{^-}/nss-SO_4{^{2-}}$ concentration ratio was relatively high in coarse mode as air mass inflow from China, but in fine mode it was high as air mass passing through the Korean peninsula.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.67-81
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• 2016

In order to examine the variation characteristics of chemical compositions in accordance with the different meteorological conditions, $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ were collected at Gosan site of Jeju Island in 2014, and then their ionic and elemental species were analyzed. The concentrations of nss-$SO{_4}^{2-}$ and $NH_4{^+}$ were respectively 4.3 and 3.3 times higher in fine particle mode ($PM_{2.5}$) compared to coarse particle mode ($PM_{10-2.5}$), however $NO_3{^-}$ concentration was 1.6 times higher in coarse mode compared to fine particle mode. During Asian dust days, the concentrations of nss-$Ca^{2+}$ and $NO_3{^-}$ increased highly as 7.7 and 4.5 times in coarse particle mode, and 3.0 and 4.9 times higher in fine particles, respectively. Especially, the concentrations of the crustal species (Al, Fe, Ca, K, Mn, Ba, Sr, etc.) indicated a noticeable increase during the Asian dust days. For the haze days, the concentrations of secondary pollutants increased 2.2~2.7 and 2.9~6.0 times in coarse and fine particles, respectively, and they were 0.8~1.1 and 1.8~2.4 times, respectively, during the mist days. The aerosols were acidified largely by sulfuric and nitric acids, and neutralized mainly by ammonia in fine particle mode during the haze days, but neutralized by calcium carbonate in coarse particle mode during the Asian dust days. The clustered back trajectory analysis showed that the concentrations of nss-$SO{_4}^{2-}$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $NH_4{^+}$ were relatively high when the inflow pathway of air mass was from the southern part of China.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.459-471
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• 2009

Air Monitoring Network(11 urban stations) is operated to measure ambient air quality in Daegu city. The urban air monitoring stations include 6 in residence area, 3 in industrial area, 1 in commercial area, and 1 in green area. In this study, hourly data (2006. 1. 1~2008. 12. 31) of $PM_{10}$ were measured at 11 urban air monitoring stations. $PM_{10}$ mean concentrations were high in fall and winter because of low wind speed and many haze days. The number of exceeding the daily standard of $PM_{10}$ in industrial area was approximately twice as many as that in residence area. $PM_{10}$ concentrations and visibility were influenced significantly by wind speed. Wind speed and visibility were below 1.8 m/s and 10 km, respectively when $PM_{10}$ concentrations were over $120{\mu}g/m^3$. $PM_{10}$ concentrations were high when haze was observed. The mean concentrations of $PM_{10}$ were $104{\pm}41.3{\mu}g/m^3$, $63{\pm}35.1{\mu}g/m^3$, and $49{\pm}26.9{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively when haze, mist and clear were observed.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.209-222
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• 2015

Fine and coarse PM had been collected by LVCI (low volume cascade impactor) and HVAS (high volume air sampler) during January 1989 to April 2012 at Kyung Hee University, Global Campus located on the boarder of Yongin and Suwon. The database of PM mass concentration was constructed and then intensively and extensively investigated to understand monthly, seasonal, and annual patterns of each PM behavior. Especially the study separated all the PM data into the 5 Period Zones, which were classified on the basis of social, political, and environmental issues that might be influencing local ambient air quality during the monitoring period. The overall $PM_{10}$ level had been continuously decreased until 2005 and after then was staggering due to rapidly increasing $PM_{2.5}$ level in $PM_{10}$. The annual average of $PM_{2.5}$ concentration varied from $34.3{\mu}g/m^3$ to $59.0{\mu}g/m^3$, which were much higher than the 2015 ambient air quality standard. The $PM_{2.5}$ level was strongly associated with haze events, while both $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ levels were associated with Yellow storm events. Daily concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ were ranged $13.1{\sim}212.9{\mu}g/m^3$ in haze days and $33.6{\sim}124.6{\mu}g/m^3$ in Asian dust days. The study also intensively investigated annual and seasonal patterns of $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$ ratios.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.745-759
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• 2013

The characteristics of meteorological conditions and air pollution were investigated in a valley city (Yangsan) on bad visibility days (from 05:00 to 09:00 LST) of the cold half year (November 2008 to April 2009). This analysis was performed using the hourly observed data of meteorological variables (temperature, wind speed and direction, relative humidity, and 2 m and 10 m temperature) and air pollutants ($NO_2$, $SO_2$, $PM_{10}$, and $O_3$). In addition, visibility data based on visual measurements and a visibility meter were used. The bad visibility days were classified into four types: fog, mist, haze, and the mixture (mist+haze). The results showed that the bad visibility days of the four types in the valley city were observed to be more frequently (about 50% of the total study period (99 days except for missing data)) than (27%) those near coastal metropolitan city (Busan). The misty days (39%) in the valley city were the most dominant followed by the hazy (37%), mixture (14%), and foggy days (10%). The visibility degradation on the misty days in Yangsan was closely related to the combined effect of high-level relative humidity due to the accumulation of water vapor from various sources (e.g. river, stream, and vegetation) and strong inversion due to the development of surface radiative cooling within the valley. On the hazy days, the visibility was mainly reduced by the increase in air pollutant (except for $O_3$) concentrations from the dense emission sources under local conditions of weaker winds from the day before and stronger inversion than the misty days. The concentrations of $NO_2$, $PM_{10}$, and $SO_2$ (up to +36 ppb, $+25{\mu}g/m^3$, and +7 ppb) on the hazy days were a factor of 1.4-2.3 higher than those (+25 ppb, $+14{\mu}g/m^3$, and +3 ppb) on the misty days.