Seoul warming up faster than world average

Global warming is affecting Seoul more than other parts of the world, a recent study showed.

According to data complied by the Korea Meteorological Administration, the average annual temperature of Seoul rose 2.4 degrees Celsius over 100 years between 1908 and 2007, amid accelerating global warming and urbanization.

Compared to estimates from similar periods, the jump in Seoul`s temperature was 1.41 times bigger than the rise in the average annual temperature of the Korean Peninsula (1.7 degrees Celsius between 1912 and 2008). The temperature rise was 3.24 times that of the global average (0.74 degrees Celsius between 1906 and 2005).

In 2007, Seoul`s highs averaged 17.4 degrees Celsius, up 1.4 degrees compared to a century ago, while the average low stood at 9.2 degrees Celsius, up 3.3 degrees, showing winter has become significantly warmer.

Similarly, between 1908 and 2007, the duration of winter also shortened to 103 days from 137 days, with spring arriving 17 days earlier than before. Summer has, on the contrary, become longer by 32 days.

The frequency of tropical nights in Seoul increased six-fold, from 12 days between 1908 and 1917 to 72 days between 1998 and 2007. The number of days when the temperature dropped below zero degrees Celsius decreased by over 33 percent to 86.2 days in the recent decade, compared to 129.4 days between 1908 and 1917.

Meanwhile, Seoul`s annual precipitation rose 27 percent to 1,580 mm from 1,156 mm over the century. Heavy rains occurred more frequently, but the number of rainy days gradually decreased.

A KMA official said Seoul`s average relative humidity and cloud amount decreased in the past 100 years, making the capital city warmer and drier. The weather agency also attributed the drastic climate change to expanding urban areas in the capital city.



By Ahn Hyo-lim

(iamhyol@heraldm.com)