• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.73-86
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• 2011

Haze phenomena were analyzed to assess the impact of long range transport process on the air quality of Seoul and Busan. We statistically classified haze days observed in both Seoul and Busan into two types of haze cases: stagnant case and long-range transport case, and analyzed the air pollutant levels comparatively for each of the two cases for the period of 2000~2007. The results showed that the long-range transport haze case occurs less frequently with the occurrence frequency of 35.5% than stagnant case with the occurrence frequency of 64.5%. During the observed all haze days, all pollutants have high concentration in comparison with those under other meteorological conditions (Rain, Mist, Dust, Clear, Rain+Mist) except for only $PM_{10}$ of Dust case where its level shows highest among total 6 categorized conditions. The long range transport haze case shows similar levels of $PM_{10}$ and $NO_2$, but higher $SO_2$ and lower $O_3$ compared with stagnant haze cases, suggesting the importance of sulfur chemistry for long range transport haze case and local photochemistry for stagnant haze case. In addition, by employing the NOAA/HYSPLIT-4 backward trajectory model, we subdivided the long range transport haze cases into two different sources: urban anthropogenic high emission areas of central China, and natural emission sources over north China and/or Mongolia. The former long range transport haze case shows higher occurrence (with Seoul 70% and Busan 85%) than the latter haze case (with Seoul 30% and Busan <10%). This is also implying that the long haze phenomena occurred over Korea have been influenced by not only the anthropogenic emissions but also the natural dust emissions. These both emission sources can be good contributors in calculating the source-receptor relationship over Korean atmospheric environment.

• Atmosphere
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.161-172
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• 2010

In an effort to investigate the characteristics of synoptic meteorological conditions in association with long-range transport of haze phenomena occurred over Korea, we statistically classified characteristics of haze events into two types of haze: stagnant case and long-range transport case, based on the synoptic meteorological parameters, and analyze comparatively the characteristics of synoptic meteorological conditions for each case. The results showed that the occurrence frequency of stagnant case accounts for 64.5%, showing superiority of stagnant haze cases over the long-range transport case which occupies only 35.5% among total 67 cases for the period from 2000 to 2007. This result indicates that haze phenomena occurred over Korea has influenced by not only the emission in Korea by itself but long range transport effects originating from China inland. The synoptic condition on 850hPa level showed that, when stagnant case occurred, Korean peninsula was located under the effects of negative vorticity with the significantly weak wind speed and stable atmospheric condition. In contrast, long-range transport case shows positive vorticity and relatively strong wind speed over 850hPa level, especially with the location of high pressure system over the area of southwestern China. This location of high pressure system implies to induce the westerlies or northwesteries consistently due to its pressure gradient by itself. Also other comparative studies haze days (vs.) Asian dust days are carried out, and we found out that the patterns of long-range transport of haze phenomena in Korea shows similar to Asian dust case but the static stability condition indicates more stabilized atmospheric condition than dust phenomena.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.503-514
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• 2004

In Seoul metropolitan area, nocturnal variation of surface ozone concentrations observed at 27 monitoring sites from 1998 to 2002 showed that high ozone levels occurred frequently during the spring. Frequency distributions for nighttime ozone indicated that elevated concentrations in spring were influenced by advection of different air mass compared to other seasons. Surface wind analysis during the spring revealed that relatively strong southwesterly winds were associated with nocturnal ozone enhancement, which can be attributed to the regional transport of ozone. In order to identify the origin of nocturnal ozone enhancement in spring, 3-day backward trajectories were calculated by HYSPLIT 4 for the episode days and then classified. The results showed that NW, W, and SW flows, indicating influence of polluted air masses from the China continent, have 51% in a]1 the episode days, which suggest that the nocturnal ozone enhancement can occur under the effect of long-range transport of ozone-laden air mass on a regional scale. Case study of nocturnal ozone maxima associated with long-range transport was discussed in more detail in the light of meteorological conditions. Southwesterly synoptic flow along the outer edge of moving high-pressure system was found to be the important cause of nocturnal ozone maxima in Seoul. This flow could lead to be long-range transport of ozone that had effectively accumulated in the stagnating portion of the system located eastern coast of China. Low atmosphere soundings, backward trajectories, and elevated ozone and CO levels at the back-ground tiles gave evidence for regional effects on nocturnal ozone enhancement In Seoul.

• Environmental Sciences Bulletin of The Korean Environmental Sciences Society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2000

In order to understand the wintertime intermittent characteristics of the trans-boundary air pollutant transport observed in East Asia, a numerical simulation of the long-range transport of pollutants was applied using an atmospheric transport model(STEM-II). The numerical simulation was carried out for the entire month of January 1997 and specific atmospheric aerosol (including sulfate, nitrate, and other ion compounds0 observation data were compared from four observation sites(Cheju Island, Kanghwa Island, Dazaifu, and Fukue Island). The observation data revealed that concentration peaks were intermittently observed at 3 to 4-day intervals plus the four observation sites exhibited a very similar spatial variation. The horizontal and spatial scale of the heavily polluted air masses was analyzed based on numerical results. The mechanism of the intermittent transport of air pollutants was clearly explained by a comparison of the observed data with the numerical output. It was found that the wind pattern variations associated with the synoptic scale pressure system changes play an extremely important role in the transport of pollutants in this region.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.20 no.E1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2004

Meteorological mechanisms in association with long-range transport of Asian dust in April 2001 have been investigated using weather maps, satellite images, TOMS and surface $PM_{10}$ data, backward trajectories, plus modeling output results (geopotential heights, horizontal wind vectors, potential temperatures, and streamlines). The results indicated that long -range transport of Asian dust to the west coast of North America was associated with strong westerlies between the Aleutian low and the Pacific high acting as a conveyor belt. Accelerating westerly flows due to cyclogenesis at the source regions over East Asia transported pollution from the continent to the central Pacific. When the system reached the Aleutian Islands, the intensity of troughs and the westerlies were amplified in the North Pacific. Thereafter the winds between the Aleutian Islands and the Pacific Ocean were more intensified from the air flow transport of the conveyor belt. Consequently, the strong wind in the conveyor belt enhanced the dust transport from the Pacific Ocean to the west coast of North America. This was evidenced by $PM_{10}$ concentration (maximum of about $100{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$) observed In California. Further evidence of the dust transport was found through the observation of satellite images, the distribution of TOMS aerosol index, and the analyses of streamlines and backward trajectories.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.193-194
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• 2000

To investigate the characteristics of fine particles and the relationships between pollutant concentrations and long-range transport patterns in Asia area, continuous every 6-day sampling (case 1) and an intensive field sampling (case 2) had been carried out between March 1998 and July 1999 at Taean, Korea. Anionic ($Cl^{-}$, ${NO_{3}}^{-}$, ${SO_{4}}^{2-}$) and Cationic ($Na^+$, ${NH_{4}}^{ +}, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$) concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ particle were analyzed. The major objective of this study is to investigate the relationships between the chemical compounds of $PM_{2.5}$ and the long-range transport patterns during intensive sampling period.

• 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 Environmental Science International
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 2001

The atmospheric conditions and the transport mechanism of long-range transport of air pollutants from coastal area to inland area were investigated using regular meteorological data and air pollution data obtatined from the southeastern area of Korea. Daytime temperature over the inland area(Taegu) was higher than that over the coastal area(Pusan) and the temperature difference of about 5~6$^{\circ}C$ when the thermal low most fully developed and the sea level pressure over Taegu was lower than that over Pusan by about 4~5hPa at that time. Therefore this low pressure appeared to the thermally induced low. Air mass polluted from the coastal area during the morning period was transported inland area, at first by the sea breeze and by the large scale wind system toward the thermal low generated in the mountainous inland region. This was explained by the fact that the concentration of air pollutants over Taegu increased throughtout the late afternoon.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.142-158
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• 2012

This paper investigates the physical and chemical characteristics of long-range transport (LRT) process of air pollutants by employing the MM5-CMAQ and its comparison with local emission dominant (LED) case over northeast Asia. We first classified high air pollution days into LRT and LED cases based on the synoptic meteorological variables of vorticity and geostrophic wind speed/direction at a geopotential level of over 850hPa. LRT cases are further categorized into three types of transport patterns (LRT-I-III) according to the air mass pathways from source regions. LRT-I-III are originated from northern, central, and southern China, respectively, identified by back trajectory analysis. Three LRT-I-III groups have different and unique locations of high pressure and transport pathways. The chemical characteristics showed that the simulated spatial distributions varied in terms of locations of maximum concentrations and the temporal variation of surface concentrations. The primary air pollutants such as $NO_x$, $PM_{10}$ and $SO_2$ of all of three LRT cases are well transported into Korea peninsula with different concentration levels. Of LRT cases, LRT-II has the greatest effect on air quality of Korea peninsula, followed by LRT-I and LRT-III. In comparison with LRT, the LED case shows relatively higher air pollution concentrations in general, but showed a variety of different air quality levels following the emission strength pattern. These widely varying patterns are impling the case dependent multi-directional approach for the development of indicators of long-range transport process over northeast Asia.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 1991

Yellow sands often occur in Korea during April and May each year, and they are believed to come from the Mongolian Gobi desert as the snow starts to melt in Spring time. Since the analysis of aerosol particulates can hardly distinguish the origin of particulates, the isentropic analysis of meteorological data is often used for the trajectories of the long range transport of yellows sand or air pollutants. The yellow sand case of April 9 $\sim$ 15, 1988, in Korea is analyzed for the identification of long range transport of yellow sands and their trajectories in East Asia, using isentropic analyses. We have tranformed the ECMWF grid data, analyzed in pressure coordinates, into the isentropic coordinates and then have traced the 286 K and 290 K air mass which started Gobi desert. The result shows the transport of yellow sands from the Gobi desert to the Korean peninsula.