A Study on the Positive Economic Values of Rain After a Long Drought: for the Rainfall Case of 20~21 April, 2009

오랜 가뭄 뒤 내린 비에 대한 긍정적 측면의 경제적 가치 연구: 2009년 4월 20~21일 강수 사례 중심으로

The impact of the precipitation has been focused on losses in social and economical sectors. However, as growing the concerns of the future water shortage caused by the climate change, the precipitation should be consider in various views for an effective planning in the water resource management. A precipitation case occurred from 20 to 21 April 2009 was recorded as a welcome rain because it reduced the severe drought continued in Korea from winter season of 2008. In this study, economic values of the event was calculated with positive aspects in various sectors. The estimation is based on four major parts such as a secure of water resources, the improvement of air quality, the decrease of forest fires, and the reduction of the drought impact. The water resources only considered inflow waters into dams and the reservoirs managed by Korean public institutions and their economic values accounts for 5.92 billion won. Decreases of four air pollutants($PM_{10}$, $NO_2$, CO, and $SO_2$) were considered as the positive effects of the rainfall and estimated 175.4 billion won. The preventive effect of the forest fire after the rainfall results in 0.48 billion won. Finally, the rainfall during the drought period is effective to reduce the social costs of 108.65 billion won. Although the economic values estimated in this study explain parts of the positive effects of the precipitation, it can help to develop a comprehensive and systematic valuation system for the whole process of the precipitation. For doing this, various rainfall types should be analyzed in social-economic terms including economics, environments and hydrology.