Dust Storm Hits Korea; More Predicted

A strong dust storm hit Korea on April 8, resulting in the first yellow dust storm warning of the year.

The nationwide dust storm alerts and warnings were recalled at 8:00 a.m. on April 9, but the effects lingered into the afternoon in the southern regions of the country.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) predicts that yellow dust storms will strike two or three more times this spring.

The rain predicted on April 10 is expected to wash away the yellow dust in the atmosphere. The KMA forecasted rainfall to be 10 to 40 mm in Seoul and Gyeonggi, 20 to 50 mm in Chungcheong, and 30 to 60 mm in the southern regions and Jeju Island, with some regions experiencing up to 80 mm in rainfall.

Worst dust storm of the year-

The dust density in Seoul on April 8 rose up to 2,300μg per cubic meter, about 20 times its usual rate. Visibility was down to one kilometer, less than one-fifth its usual rate.

The yellow wind was the strongest since March 21 2002, when kindergartens and elementary schools were closed due to the dust storms. The dust density at the time was 2,778μg per cubic meter.

The KMA estimated that the average dust density was between 400 and 2,370 μg nationwide, excluding Jeju.

Reasons for storm-

The KMA stated that this dust storm was detected in the east first, not the west, which was very unusual. The yellow winds usually originate from the northwest regions near Beijing. But this storm originated from the Manchurian regions, traveling across North Korea and settling in the South.

As a result, meteorologists have found it difficult to predict the storms, and the weak winds have caused the dust to settle in the atmosphere above the Korean peninsula, exacerbating conditions.

The desert regions of continental China from which the yellow dust storms originate have recorded high, arid temperatures recently, leading to an increasing number of dust storms.

Effects of the yellow wind-

The yellow wind contains 1 to 10μm (1μm is 10-6m) of fine dust. When the yellow dust enters the respiratory organs and attaches to the lungs, it could cause respiratory illnesses. The dust winds also affect the mucous membrane of the eyes.

But the dust wind also has positive effects as it contains alkali substances, neutralizing acid rain and providing lime to the ground and thus neutralizing the acidic soil.

gaea@donga.com