• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.447-458
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• 2020

This study presents the K-means clustering analysis-based classification of the meteorological patterns affecting the occurrence of high PM₁₀ concentration in the southeastern region of the Korean peninsula for the last five years (2014-2018). Regional differences in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam related to high PM₁₀ episodes, were clarified through the statistical comparison study using synoptic scale meteorological elements using NCEP (National Centers for Environmental Prediction/FNL (Final Operational Global Analysis) re-analysis meteorological data. Meteorological patterns were classified into a total of five categories (C1-C5). The incidence of each cluster was 24.8% (C1), 21.3% (C2), 20.4% (C3), 17.3% (C4), and 16.2% (C5), respectively. The high PM₁₀ concentration in the southeastern region resulted from long and short range transports (C1, C3, C5) from outside of the region, and the emissions (C2, C4) inside the region. In the high PM₁₀ episodes in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam regions, meteorological characteristics such as different geopotential height and wind speed at 500 hPa in each cluster and the change in the location of high pressure over Korean Peninsula is strongly associated with the dispersion of PM₁₀ around inventories in the region and the tendency of long-range transportation of PM₁₀ emitted from outside of region.