• Title/Summary/Keyword: Asia-North Pacific region

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Projected Climate Change Scenario over East Asia by a Regional Spectral Model (동아시아 지역에서의 지역 분광 모델을 이용하여 투영시킨 기후변화 시나리오)

  • Chang, Eun-Chul;Hong, Song-You
    • Journal of the Korean earth science society
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    • v.32 no.7
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    • pp.770-783
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    • 2011
  • In this study, we performed a downscaling of an ECHAM5 simulated dataset for the current and future climate produced under the Special Report on Emission Scenarios A1B (SRES A1B) by utilizing the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Regional Spectral Model (RSM). The current climate simulation was performed for the period 1980-2000 and the future climate run for the period 2040-2070 for the COordinated Regional climate Downscaling EXperiment (CORDEX)'s East Asia domain. The RSM is properly able to reproduce the climatological fields from the evaluation of the current climate simulation. Future climatological precipitation during the summer season is increased over the tropical Oceans, the maritime-continent, and Japan. In winter, on the other hand, precipitation is increased over the tropical Indian Ocean, the maritime-continents and the Western North Pacific, and decreased over the eastern tropical Indian Ocean. For the East Asia region few significant changes are detected in the precipitation climatological field. However, summer rainfall shows increasing trend after 2050 over the region. The future climate ground temperature shows a clear increasing trend in comparison with the current climate. In response to global warming, atmospheric warming is clearly detected, which strengthens the upper level trough.

Persistent Organic Pollution and Arsenic Contamination in Asia Pacific Water: Case Study of Emerging Environmental Problems in Vietnam

  • Pham, Viet.H.
    • Journal of Wetlands Research
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.79-89
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    • 2007
  • This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the present status of several environmental problems caused by emerging toxic substances such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and arsenic in various environmental media in Vietnam. Monitoring data reported during the 1990s demonstrated elevated contamination of DDTs in most of these compartments in Vietnam. Studies in frame of the Asia-Pacific Mussel Watch Program revealed that fish, mussels and resident birds from Vietnam contained higher concentrations of DDTs as compared to other countries in region, suggesting the role of Vietnamese environment as a significant emission source of DDT in the Southeast Asian region. The estimated dietary intakes of PCBs and DDTs for Vietnamese were relatively high among Asian developing countries, suggesting potential risk for humans posed by thesechemicals. Widespread contamination of some endocrine active compounds such as alkylphenols and phthalates was observed at various sites along the coasts of northern and middle Vietnam. The presence of significant source of bisphenol-A along Red River estuary was revealed with the concentrations comparable to those reported for developed nations. A case study on seasonal variation of alkylphenols and phthalates in surface water of river delta and estuary of north and middle Vietnam indicated the differences in distribution of these compounds between dry and rainy seasons. Higher concentrations of alkylphenols and phthalates were found in dry season in estuary; while the contrasting pattern was observed in the river delta, showing elevated residues in rainy season. This result suggests the different behavior of alkylphenols and phthalates in river delta and coastal environment. From ecotoxicological perspectives, concentrations of bis-phenol A and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalates [DEHP] in surface water from some locations in Vietnam exceeded the guideline values for Ecotoxicological Effects and the Environmental Risk Limit, respectively, suggesting potential for toxic implications on aquatic wildlife. Widespread and elevated arsenic contamination was discovered inour recent surveys in groundwater in a large area of suburban areas of Hanoi city, the capital of Vietnam. The most recent investigation in 4 villages showed about more than 50 % of groundwater samples contained As concentrations exceeding 50 g/L (the WHO and Vietnamese standard). In particular, in Son Dong villages, 58 % of samples analyzed contained As concentrations higher than 200 g/L. Good correlations were found in As concentrations in water and hair and urine of peoples in corresponding families, suggesting the chronic exposure to As by people living in As-contaminated ground water areas. In Son Dong village, As levels in hair (mean: 1.7 mg/kg dry wt) and urine (g/g creatinine) exceeding the reference values recommended by WHO, suggesting potential for human risk posed by long term accumulation of As in human body. Future studies should be focused on the time trends of POPs and EDCs in biota in Vietnam in order to predict future trend of contamination and to reveal new clues for understanding possible toxic impacts on aquatic organisms. The issues of arsenic contamination in groundwater and their chronic toxic implications on human health should be systematically investigated in the future.

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Impacts of Aerosol Loading on Surface Precipitation from Deep Convective Systems over North Central Mongolia

  • Lkhamjav, Jambajamts;Lee, Hyunho;Jeon, Ye-Lim;Seo, Jaemyeong Mango;Baik, Jong-Jin
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Atmospheric Sciences
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    • v.54 no.4
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    • pp.587-598
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    • 2018
  • The impacts of aerosol loading on surface precipitation from mid-latitude deep convective systems are examined using a bin microphysics model. For this, a precipitation case over north central Mongolia, which is a high-altitude inland region, on 21 August 2014 is simulated with aerosol number concentrations of 150, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, and $4800cm^{-3}$. The surface precipitation amount slightly decreases with increasing aerosol number concentration in the range of $150-600cm^{-3}$, while it notably increases in the range of $600-4800cm^{-3}$ (22% increase with eightfold aerosol loading). We attempt to explain why the surface precipitation amount increases with increasing aerosol number concentration in the range of $600-4800cm^{-3}$. A higher aerosol number concentration results in more drops of small sizes. More drops of small sizes grow through condensation while being transported upward and some of them freeze, thus increasing the mass content of ice crystals. The increased ice crystal mass content leads to an increase in the mass content of small-sized snow particles largely through deposition, and the increased mass content of small-sized snow particles leads to an increase in the mass content of large-sized snow particles largely through riming. In addition, more drops of small sizes increase the mass content of supercooled drops, which also leads to an increase in the mass content of large-sized snow particles through riming. The increased mass content of large-sized snow particles resulting from these pathways contributes to a larger surface precipitation amount through melting and collision-coalescence.

International Comparative Study on Education for International Understanding(EIU) : Based on the Regional Analysis of Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Africa (국제이해교육의 지역별 동향 분석 연구: 유럽·북미·아시아태평양·아프리카를 중심으로)

  • Kim, Hyun-Duk;Kang, Soon-Won;Yi, Kyeong-Han;Kim, Da-Won
    • Korean Journal of Comparative Education
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    • v.27 no.4
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    • pp.127-154
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    • 2017
  • EIU has evolved diversely depending on the national environment and culture on the basis of the philosophy of individual human rights and world peace articulated in the "1974 Recommendation on EIU". However, the global environment surrounding EIU has been changed socially, economically, culturally and ecologically in the 21st century, and therefore it is necessary to raise the following questions: Is the concept of EIU initiated for international understanding and cooperation for world peace in the 20th century still valid in the 21st century? Which direction should we take in order for EIU to be efficient in the globalized world? To answer these questions, this study reviewed and analyzed the historical development and current trends of the EIU in the regions of Europe, North America, Asia Pacific area, and Africa. For the empirical study, thirty-four experts in EIU selected from the four regions were interviewed by the researchers. Based on the interviews and the related literature review, it was found that the diverse terms of EIU were used in the four regions and the focus on EIU was different depending on the geographical, historical and social environment of each region. But, despite of the diversity in terminology in EIU, human rights, peace, equity and social justice which are emphasized by UNESCO, were universally taught in EIU. The EIU in these regions is currently dealt with in school education, social education and lifelong education, and particularly global citizenship allowing multiple identities is importantly treated together with citizenship education. Another important aspect of EIU that was commonly found in these four regions was that global citizenship education for solving global problems was coexistent with the reinforcement of nationalism for the economic competency of each nation in a globalized world. The issue of global inequality was particularly dealt with in EIU, and the teaching of voluntary civic involvement and responsibility were particularly emphasized in EIU. Based on these research findings, the study proposes "glocalism", connecting global issues with local issues for solving global problems, as a new approach to the EIU of the 21st century.

Characteristics of East Asian Cold Surges in the CMIP5 Climate Models (CMIP5 기후 모형에서 나타나는 동아시아 한파의 특징)

  • Park, Tae-Won;Heo, Jin-Woo;Jeong, Jee-Hoon;Ho, Chang-Hoi
    • Atmosphere
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.199-211
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    • 2017
  • The cold surges over East Asia can be grouped to two types of the wave-train and the blocking. Recently, the observational study proposed new dynamical index to objectively identify cold surge types. In this study, the dynamical index is applied to the simulations of 10 climate models, which participate in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5). Focusing on assessment of cold surge simulation, we discuss characteristic of the wave-train and blocking cold surges in the climate models. The wave-train index (WI) and the blocking index (BI) based on potential temperature anomalies at dynamical tropopause over the subarctic region, the northeast China, and the western North Pacific enable us to classify cold surges in the climate models into two types. The climate models well simulate the occurrence mechanism of the wave-train cold surges with vertical structure related to growing baroclinic wave. However, while the wave-train in the observation propagates in west-east direction across the Eurasia Continent, most of the models simulate the southeastward propagation of the wave-train originated from the Kara Sea. For the blocking cold surges, the general features in the climate models well follow those in the observation to show the dipole pattern of a barotropic high-latitude blocking and a baroclinic coastal trough, leading to the Arctic cold surges with the strong northerly wind originated from the Arctic Sea. In both of the observation and climate models, the blocking cold surges tend to be more intense and last longer compared to the wave-train type.

Impact of IODM and ENSO on the East Asian Monsoon: Simulations through NCAR Community Atmospheric Model (동아시아 몬순 지역에서 IODM과 ENSO의 영향 : NCAR Community Atmospheric Model을 이용한 모의 실험)

  • Oh J.-H.;Chaudhari H. S.;Kripalani R. H.
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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    • v.7 no.4
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    • pp.240-249
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    • 2005
  • The normal Indian Ocean is characterized by warmer waters over the eastern region and cooler waters over the western region. Changes in sea surface temperature (SST) over the western and eastern Indian Ocean give birth to a phenomenon now referred to as the Indian Ocean Dipole Mode (IODM). The positive phase of this mode is characterized by positive SST anomalies over the western Indian Ocean and negative anomalies over the southeastern Indian Ocean, while the negative phase is characterized by a reversed SST anomaly pattern. On the other hand, the normal Pacific Ocean has warm (cool) waters over the western (eastern) parts. Positive (negative) SST anomalies over the central/eastern (western) Pacific Ocean characterize the E1 Nino phenomenon. The reverse situation leads to the La Nina phenomenon. The coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon over the Pacific is referred to as the E1 Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. In this study the impact of IODM and ENSO on the East Asian monsoon variability has been studied using observational data and using the Community Atmospheric Model (CAM) of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Five sets of model experiments were performed with anomalous SST patterns associated with IODM/ENSO superimposed on the climatological SSTs. The empirical and dynamic approaches reveal that it takes about 3-4 seasons fur the peak IODM mode to influence the summer monsoon activity over East Asia. On the other hand, the impact of ENSO on the East Asian monsoon could occur simultaneously. Further, the negative (positive) phase of IODM and E1 Nino (La Nina) over the Pacific enhances (suppresses) monsoon activity over the Korea-Japan Sector. Alternatively, IODM appears to have no significant impact on monsoon variability over China. However, El Nino (La Nina) suppresses (enhances) monsoon activity over China. While the IODM appears to influence the North Pacific subtropical high, ENSO appears to influence the Aleutian low over the northwest Pacific. Thus, the moisture supply towards East Asia from the Pacific is determined by the strengthening/weakening of the subtropical high and the Aleutian low.

Influence of Large-Scale Environments on Tropical Cyclone Activity over the Western North Pacific: A Case Study for 2009 (대규모 순환장이 북서태평양 태풍활동에 끼치는 영향: 2009년의 예)

  • Choi, Woosuk;Ho, Chang-Hoi;Kim, Hyeong-Seog
    • Journal of Climate Change Research
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    • v.1 no.2
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    • pp.133-145
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    • 2010
  • This study examined the characteristics of tropical cyclone(TC) activity over the western North Pacific(WNP) in 2009. Twenty-two TCs formed in 2009, which is slightly below normal(1979~2009 average: 25.8) and most of these occurred during the months of July to October. Most TCs in 2009 was formed over the northern Philippines and the eastern part of the WNP and they moved towards the South China Sea and the east of Japan, resulting in less TC affecting the East China Sea and Korea. The TC activity in 2009 is modulated by the large-scale circulations induced by the El $Ni{\tilde{n}}o$ and vigorous convection activity over the WNP. As the general characteristics of El $Ni{\tilde{n}}o$ year, the difference in sea surface temperature between the central Pacific and the eastern Pacific causes an anomalous westerly winds, expanding the WNP monsoon trough farther eastward. Accordingly, TC formation has relatively increased in the east part of the WNP. Active convection activities over the subtropical western Pacific excite a Rossby wave propagating from the South China Sea to mid-latitudes, resulting in an anomalous easterly steering flow in the South China, anomalous northwesterly over the East China Sea and Korea, and anomalous southwesterly over the east of Japan. Summing up, the TCs cannot enter the East China Sea and Korean region and instead they move towards the South China Sea or south-east of Japan. There were no effects of TCs in Korea in 2009. It is anticipated that this study which analyzed unusual TC activity and large-scale circulations in 2009 would help the predictability of TC effects to increase according to climate change in the East Asia.

Studies on the Behavior of SO2 and NOx over Yellow Sea Area during Long Term Aircraft Measurements(1997~2007) (장기간(1997~2007) 창공관측을 이용한 서해상 SO2 및 NOx의 거동 연구)

  • Song, Hyung-Do;Choi, Jin-Soo;Jang, Im-Suk;Kim, Jeong-Soo;Lee, Suk-Jo
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.18 no.5
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    • pp.569-578
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    • 2009
  • Aircraft Measurements of gaseous pollutants($SO_2$, NOx and $O_3$) in the Yellow Sea area, were carried out on 1997-2007. Main measurement site in 124$^{\circ}$-127$^{\circ}$E, 35$^{\circ}$-37$^{\circ}$N (in the Yellow Sea), have been done along the paths classified vertically and zonally. To understand how the air stream affects Long-range transboundary pollutants in Northease Asia (LTP), the tracks of pollutants in northeast Asia have been analyzed by dividing into 6 different regions(regions I-V and L). Compared with Korea's local sources and western north Pacific influenced by the Yellow Sea, when the air stream from region II is dominant, the $SO_2$ concentrations are 3-6times higher. In region II and III, $SO_2$ concentrations are represented highest at 25.0 and 14.7 ppb, respectively. However, in other regions, $SO_2$ concentration was recorderd the highest at 1.1-3.8 ppb, which is 7-15% higher then the highest one over the region II and III. During 1997-2007, the mean amount of incoming pollutants is 0.162 $ton/km{\cdot}hr$ exceeding about 5-times mean amount of outgoing pollutants over the West Sea. During the observed period, the amount of incoming and outgoing $SO_2$ over the Yellow Sea is the highest in winter, at 0.224 $ton/(km{\cdot}hr)$ and 0.120 $ton/(km{\cdot}hr)$, respectively.

Investigation on Characteristics of Summertime Extreme Temperature Events Occurred in South Korea Using Self-Organizing Map (자기조직화지도(Self-Organizing Map)를 이용한 최근 우리나라 여름철 극한온도 특성 분류)

  • Lim, Won-Il;Seo, Kyong-Hwan
    • Atmosphere
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    • v.28 no.3
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    • pp.305-315
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    • 2018
  • This study investigates the characteristic spatial patterns and dynamic processes associated with the summertime extreme temperature events in South Korea during the last 20 years (1995~2014) using Self-Organizing Map (SOM). The classified SOM patterns commonly have high temperature and anticyclonic circulation anomalies over South Korea. The two major teleconnection patterns are identified: one is from the subtropical western North Pacific (WNP) affecting to the north and the other is from the North Atlantic (NA) affecting downstream region. The meridional teleconnection pattern is related to the forcing of positive sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly over the WNP. The northward propagating Rossby wave generates the East Asia-Pacific (EAP) pattern to form an anticyclonic circulation anomaly over South Korea. On the other hand, NA SST anomalies generate an eastward Rossby wave train across the Eurasian continent, leading to the development of an anticyclonic circulation anomaly over South Korea. The EAP pattern occurs more frequently in July and August, whereas the midlatitude teleconnection pattern associated with NA SST anomalies develops more frequently in early summer (June).

Regional Characteristics of Global Warming: Linear Projection for the Timing of Unprecedented Climate (지구온난화의 지역적 특성: 전례 없는 기후 시기에 대한 선형 전망)

  • SHIN, HO-JEONG;JANG, CHAN JOO
    • The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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    • v.21 no.2
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    • pp.49-57
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    • 2016
  • Even if an external forcing that will drive a climate change is given uniformly over the globe, the corresponding climate change and the feedbacks by the climate system differ by region. Thus the detection of global warming signal has been made on a regional scale as well as on a global average against the internal variabilities and other noises involved in the climate change. The purpose of this study is to estimate a timing of unprecedented climate due to global warming and to analyze the regional differences in the estimated results. For this purpose, unlike previous studies that used climate simulation data, we used an observational dataset to estimate a magnitude of internal variability and a future temperature change. We calculated a linear trend in surface temperature using a historical temperature record from 1880 to 2014 and a magnitude of internal variability as the largest temperature displacement from the linear trend. A timing of unprecedented climate was defined as the first year when a predicted minimum temperature exceeds the maximum temperature record in a historical data and remains as such since then. Presumed that the linear trend and the maximum displacement will be maintained in the future, an unprecedented climate over the land would come within 200 years from now in the western area of Africa, the low latitudes including India and the southern part of Arabian Peninsula in Eurasia, the high latitudes including Greenland and the mid-western part of Canada in North America, the low latitudes including Amazon in South America, the areas surrounding the Ross Sea in Antarctica, and parts of East Asia including Korean Peninsula. On the other hand, an unprecedented climate would come later after 400 years in the high latitudes of Eurasia including the northern Europe, the middle and southern parts of North America including the U.S.A. and Mexico. For the ocean, an unprecedented climate would come within 200 years over the Indian Ocean, the middle latitudes of the North Atlantic and the South Atlantic, parts of the Southern Ocean, the Antarctic Ross Sea, and parts of the Arctic Sea. In the meantime, an unprecedented climate would come even after thousands of years over some other regions of ocean including the eastern tropical Pacific and the North Pacific middle latitudes where an internal variability is large. In summary, spatial pattern in timing of unprecedented climate are different for each continent. For the ocean, it is highly affected by large internal variability except for the high-latitude regions with a significant warming trend. As such, a timing of an unprecedented climate would not be uniform over the globe but considerably different by region. Our results suggest that it is necessary to consider an internal variability as well as a regional warming rate when planning a climate change mitigation and adaption policy.