• Atmosphere
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.565-576
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• 2016

The yellow dust events in Korea are often associated with extratropical cyclones (ETCs) that travel across the source regions of yellow dusts. Although such synoptic patterns are well documented, climatic features of ETCs themselves during the yellow dust events are not well understood. The present study reports climatic features of spring-time ETCs, which accompany the yellow dust events in Korea, by tracking individual ETCs with an automated tracking algorithm. By analyzing Lagrangian tracks of ETCs from 1979 to 2014, it is found that, during yellow dust events, ETCs are located around Vladivostok, Russia. They are typically originated from the leeside of Altai-Sayan mountains about three days before the onset of the yellow dust events, and travel either eastward or southeastward in time. While their tracks are not unusual, they grow faster over the source regions of the yellow dusts, possibly lifting desert dusts above the planetary boundary layer, and further develop slowly as they travel eastward.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.233-244
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• 1994

The phenomenon of yellow sand (dust clouds) occurred in Korea during the spring of 1993 and 1994 is studied in detail. In total 6 cases including 15 days of yellow sand were observed in 1993 and the annual number of these events was found to increased. Examinations in this study include meteorological charts satellite imagery, pilot reports (PIREP) of Korea Air Force, and air concentrations of total suspended particulates(TSP). We present on estimation of total atmospheric loadings based on the observation and theory. According to the PIREP, in general the dust clouds travelled in the lower troposphere up to the level 5km. The visibility within the clouds was in the range of 3-8km The area covered by yellow sand in an event exceeded 0.4 M $\textrm{km}^2$ . According to trajectory analyses, dust clouds invaded Korea in April and May 1993 were landed in the sink area after 2~4 days travelling for 2,000~3,000km from a source region. Estimates of total atmospheric loadings of a dust cloud for April 23~24 in 1993 were 1.5 M ton. In addition, 7 dust storms were also reported in synoptic observations in NW China and Mongolia during the spring in 1994. The yellow sand was not reported with meteorological observations in Korea, however pilots reported significant dust clouds over the Yellow Sea on 8 and 13 April and 20 May 1994.

• Environmental Sciences Bulletin of The Korean Environmental Sciences Society
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• v.10 no.S_4
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• pp.197-206
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• 2001

The long-range transport mechanisms of Asian dust were analyzed based on the synoptic weather system and numerical simulation by using NCEP/NCAR reanalysis and TOMS data during the periods of 1996-2001. We classified the whole weather types of eastern Asia during spring and created the representative weather types during the yellow sand events using cluster analysis and weather charts for the last 6 years(1996~2001). These long-range transport mechanisms were related to various pressure patterns including high and low, trough and ridge, and upper-level fronts. Case studies of the yellow sand events have performed by the simulation of MM5 with meteorological elements such as the horizontal wind of u and v component, potential temperature, potential vorticity, and vertical circulation during the episodic days(2~8 March 2001). In addition, the origin of the long-range transport was examined with the estimation of backward trajectory using HYSPLIT4 Model. In this paper, we concluded that three weather types at 1000 hPa, 850 hPa, 500 hPa, and 300 hPa levels were classified respectively. The dominant features were the extending continental outflow from China to Korea at 1000 hPa and 850 hPa levels, the deep trough passage and cold advection at 500 hPa and 300 hPa levels during the yellow sand events. And also, we confirmed the existence of pola $r_tropical jets in the upper-level, the behavior of potential vorticity over Korea, the estimation of potential vorticity through vertical cross section, and the transport of yellow sand through backward trajectories.es.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.32-45
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• 2016

The anthropogenic aerosols originated from the pollutant emissions in the eastern part of China and dust emitted in northwestern China in Yellow sand regions are subsequently transported via eastward wind to the Korean peninsula and then these aerosols induce high $PM_{10}$ concentrations in Korean peninsula. In order to estimate air quality considering anthropogenic and dust emissions, Comprehensive Air-quality Model with extension (CAMx) was applied to simulate $PM_{10}$ concentration. The predicted $PM_{10}$ concentrations without/with dust emissions were compared with observations at ambient air quality monitoring sites in China and Korea for 2008. The predicted $PM_{10}$ concentrations with dust emissions could depict the variation of measured $PM_{10}$ especially during Yellow sand events in Korea. The comparisons also showed that predicted $PM_{10}$ concentrations without dust emissions were under-predicted while predictions of $PM_{10}$ concentrations with dust emission were in good agreement with observations. This implied that dust emissions from desert and barren soil in southern Mongolia and northern China minimized the discrepancies in the $PM_{10}$ predictions in East Asia. The effect of dust emission on annual $PM_{10}$ concentrations in Korea Peninsula for year 2008 was $5{\sim}10{\mu}g/m^3$, which were about 20% of observed annual $PM_{10}$ concentrations.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.191-208
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• 1998

Estimations of dry and wet depositions in Korea and the size distributions of yellow sand above Korea have been carried out using the Eulerian aerosol model with the simulated meteorological data from the SNU mesoscale meteorological model. The estimated particle size distribution in Korea shows a bimodal distribution with peak values at 0.6 pm and 7 pm and a minimum at 2 pm in the lower layer However, as higher up, the bimodal distribution becomes an unimodal distribution with a peak value at 4∼5mm. Among the total amount of yellow sand deflated in the source regions , the dry and wet deposition fluxes were about 92%, and about 1.3∼0.5%, repectively, and the rest(5∼6%) is suspended in the air, Most of dust lifted in the air during the clear weather is deposited in the vicinity of the source regions by dry deposition and the rest undergoes the long -range transport with a gradual removal by the wet deposition processes. Over Korean peninsula, the total amount of yellow sand suspended in the air was about 6∼8% of the emissions in the source region and the dry and wet deposition fluxes were about 0.005∼0.7% and 0.003∼0.051% of the total emitted amount, repectively. It is estimated that 2.7∼8.9 mesa-tons of yellow sand is transported annually over the Korean peninsula with the annual mean dry deposition of 2.1∼490 kilo-tons and the annual mean wet deposition of 1.5∼65 kilo-tons.

• Atmosphere
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.357-372
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• 2016

Northeast Asian regions have recently become the main source of anthropogenic and natural aerosols. Measurement of aerosols on the sea in these regions have been rarely conducted since the experimental campaigns such as ACE-ASIA (Asian Pacific Regional Aerosol Characterization Experiment) in 2001. Research vessel observations of aerosol mass and chemical composition were performed on the Yellow and south sea around the Korean peninsula. The ship measurements showed six representative cases such as aerosol event and non-event cases during the study periods. On non-event cases, the anthropogenic chemical and natural soil composition on the Yellow sea were greater than those on the south sea. On aerosol event cases such as haze, haze with dust, and dust, the measured mass concentrations of anthropogenic chemical and element compositions were clearly changed by the events. In particular, methanesulfonate ($MSA^-$, $CH_3SO_3^-$), a main component of natural oceanic aerosol important for sulfur circulation on Earth, was first observed by the vessel in Korea, and its concentration on the Yellow sea was three times that on the south sea during the study period. Sea salt concentration important to chemical composition on the sea is related to wind speed. Coefficients of determination ($R^2$) between wind speed and sea salt concentration were 0.68 in $PM_{10}$ and 0.82 in $PM_{2.5}$. Maximum wave height was not found to be correlated to the sea salt concentration. When sea-salt comes into contact with pollutants, the total sea-salt mass is reduced, i.e., a loss of $Cl^-$ concentration from NaCl, the main chemical composing sea salt, is estimated by reaction with $HNO_3$(gas) and $H_2SO_4$(gas). The $Cl^-$ concentration loss by $SO_4^{2-}$ and $NO_3^-$ more easily increased for $PM_{10}$ compared to $PM_{2.5}$. The results of this study will be applied to verifying a dust-haze forecasting model. In addition, continued vessel measurements of aerosol data will become important to research for climate change studies in the future.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.570-578
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• 2003

Background : Ambient particles during Asian dust events are usually sized less than $10{\mu}m$, known to be associated with the adverse effects on the general populations. But, there has been no considerable evidence linking these particles to the adverse effects on airways. The objectives of this study was to investigate the possible adverse effects of Asian dust events on respiratory function and symptoms in subjects with bronchial asthma. Patients and Methods : From march to June 2002, Asthmatic patients who were diagnosed with bronchial challenge test or bronchodilator response were enrolled. We divided them into three groups; mild, moderate, and severe, according to the severity. Subjects with other organ insufficiency such as heart, kidney, liver, and malignancy were excluded. All patients completed twice daily diaries and recorded peak flow rate, respiratory symptom, and daily activity. Daily and hourly mean pollutant levels of particulate matter < $10{\mu}m$ in diameter($PM_{10}$), nitrogen dioxide($NO_2$), sulphur dioxide($SO_2$), ozone($O_3$) and carbon monoxide(CO) were measured at the 10 different monitoring sites. Results : Dust events occured 14 times during the study period. Daily averages of 4 air pollutant were measured with an increased level of $PM_{10}$, decreased level of $NO_2$ and $SO_2$, and no change in CO during dust days compared to those during control days. An increase in $PM_{10}$ concentration was associated with an increase of subjects with PEF variability of >20% (p<0.05), night time symptom(p<0.05), and a decrease in mean PEF (p<0.05), which were calculated by the longitudinal data analysis. Otherwise, there was no association between $PM_{10}$ level and bronchodialtor inhaler, and daytime respiratory symptoms. Conclusion : This study shows evidence that ambient air pollution, especially $PM_{10}$, during Asian dust events, could be one of the many aggravating factors at least in patients with airway diseases. This data can be used as a primary source to set up a new policy on air environmental control and to evaluate the safety of air pollution index. We also expect that this research will help identify precise components of dust, which are more linked to the adverse effects.

• Atmosphere
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.175-185
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• 2018

Characteristics of precipitation response to enhanced aerosols have been investigated during the severe haze events observed in Korea for 2011 to 2016. All 6-years haze events are classified into long-range transported haze (LH: 31%), urban haze (UH: 28%), and yellow sand (YS: 18%) in order. Long-range transported one is mainly discussed in this study. Interestingly, both LH (68%) and YS (87%) appear to be more frequently accompanied with precipitation than UH (48%). We also found out the different timing of precipitation for LH and YS, respectively. The variations of precipitation frequency for the LH event tend to coincide with aerosol variations specifically in terms of temporal covariation, which is in contrast with YS. Increased aerosol loadings following precipitation for the YS event seems to be primarily controlled by large scale synoptic forcing. Meanwhile, aerosols for the LH event may be closely associated with precipitation longevity through changes in cloud microphysics such that enhanced aerosols can increase smaller cloud droplets and further extend light precipitation at weaker rate. Notably, precipitation persisted longer than operational weather forecast not considering detailed aerosol-cloud interactions, but the timescale was limited within a day. This result demonstrates active interactions between aerosols and meteorology such as probable modifications of cloud microphysics and precipitation, synoptic-induced dust transport, and precipitation-scavenging in Korea. Understanding of aerosol potential effect on precipitation will contribute to improving the performance of numerical weather model especially in terms of precipitation timing and location.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.419-436
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• 2002

The current paper reports on the enhancement of O$_3$, CO, NO$_2$, and aerosols during the Asian dust event that occurred over Korea on 1 May 1999. To confirm the origin and net flux of the O$_3$, CO, NO$_2$, and aerosols, the meteorological parameters of the weather conditions were investigated using Mesoscale Meteorological Model 5(MM5) and the TOMS total ozone and aerosol index, the back trajectory was identified using the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory Model(HYSPLIT), and the ozone and ozone precursor concentrations were determined using the Urban Ashed Model(UAM). In the presence of sufficiently large concentrations of NO$\sub$x/, the oxidation of CO led to O$_3$ formation with OH, HO$_2$, NO, and NO$_2$ acting as catalysts. The sudden enhancement of O$_3$, CO, NO$_2$ and aerosols was also found to be associated with a deepening cut-off low connected with a surface cyclone and surface anticyclone located to the south of Korea during the Asian dust event. The wave pattern of the upper trough/cut-off low and total ozone level remained stationary when they came into contact with a surface cyclone during the Asian dust event. A typical example of a stratosphere-troposphere exchange(STE) of ozone was demonstrated by tropopause folding due to the jet stream. As such, the secondary maxima of ozone above 80 ppbv that occurred at night in Busan, Korea on 1 May 2001 were considered to result from vertical mixing and advection from a free troposphere-boundary layer exchange in connection with an STE in the upper troposphere. Whereas the sudden enhancement of ozone above 100 ppbv during the day was explained by the catalytic reaction of ozone precursors and transport of ozone from a slow-moving anticyclone area that included a high level of ozone and its precursors coming from China to the south of Korea. The aerosols identified in the free troposphere over Busan, Korea on 1 May 1999 originated from the Taklamakan and Gobi deserts across the Yellow River. In particular, the 1000m profile indicated that the source of the air parcels was from an anticyclone located to the south of Korea. The net flux due to the first invasion of ozone between 0000 LST and 0600 LST on 1 May 1999 agreed with the observed ground-based background concentration of ozone. From 0600 LST to 1200 LST, the net flux of the second invasion of ozone was twice as much as the day before. In this case, a change in the horizontal wind direction may have been responsible for the ozone increase.

• 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.