• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.385-402
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• 2002

This study examined temporal and spatial patterns of bioclimatic perceived sultriness in South Korea by analyzing the climatology of heat index calculated from ambient temperature and relative humidity for the period of 26 years (1973-1998). As results, spatially, bioclimatic sultriness above all thresholds frequently occurred mainly in the central western inner area, the southwestern inner area, and the southeastern inner area of South Korea. Especially, Miryang in the southeastern inner area of South Korea was proved to be, bioclimatically, the sultriest area in South Korea that has recorded frequent high heat index. Temporally, frequency of sultriness in the contiguous South Korea significantly increased in the 1990s. Specifically, In 1994, frequencies of heat index exceeding each threshold was the highest all over South Korea. Normally, the sultriness with high heat index exceeding 40.6$^{circ}C$ occurred mainly for the period of between the end of July generally after Summer Changma and the beginning of August before another small rainy season of years. These temporal-spatial distributions of bioclimatic sultriness in South Korea showed various patterns regionally, affected by physical and anthropogenic climatic factors such as topography, latitude, altitude, water bodies or aforestration, urbanization, and industrialization as well as movements of large-scale air masses.