Yellow Dust Warning Issued Nationwide

The yellow dust spreading over the Korean Peninsula starting March 31 is being caused by low atmospheric pressure moving eastward that carried the yellow dust from the Gobi Desert on March 30.

A yellow dust warning has come into effect for the Seoul Metropolitan area and the central region before, but it is first time that a yellow dust warning has been sounded for the southern region, including Busan, Daegu, and Jeju.

Jeon Young-sin, a typhoon and yellow dust research team leader of the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), said, “The current yellow dust wave is categorized as “very-strong,” with a dust density of over 800 micrograms (microgram: one millionth of a gram) per cubic meter. It is fourth time that we have seen very strong yellow dust in Seoul, since we witnessed it on March 21-22, 2002.”

According to yellow dust observatories nationwide, many places recorded the dust density as exceeding 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter: 1,061 micrograms at Mt. Goodeok, Busan; 1,064 micrograms at Mt. Gwanak; and 1,032 micrograms at Sokcho. In terms of visibility range, Seoul recorded three kilometers, Busan two kilometers, and Ulsan one kilometer. The visibility range with fine weather tops 10 kilometers.

A KMA official said, “We expect that the yellow dust will dissipate bit by bit starting the morning of April 2.” However, he was concerned that the yellow dust could possibly become stronger, saying, “As the fine dust density was found to be very high in Dalian, China around 12:00 a.m. on April 1, we are seeing if it will influence the Korean Peninsula.”

The fine dust density could even increase, since atmospheric pollutants remain even after the yellow dust passes by. The number of yellow dust days in Seoul has totaled six this year. Considering that yellow dust occurs frequently in April, the number of this year’s yellow dust days is expected to be more than that of last year’s (11).

The amount of dust carried by the yellow dust cloud for a day is estimated to be up to 46,000-86,000 tons, enough to fill 4,000-5,000 dump trucks of 15 tons each.

Downtown Seoul was empty since citizens were unwilling to go outside due to the yellow dust. Spectators and participants in some events, including the Naval Port Festival of Jinhae, South Gyeongsang Province, the largest cherry blossom festival in Korea, the Walking Competition for Changwon citizens, and the Azalea Festival of Mt. Daegeum in Geoje, felt uncomfortable because of the yellow dust.

kimkihy@donga.com