Weather

Weather in Korea
Typhoon
Rusa
The weather in Korea
South korea is located in middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere and the Temperate Zone with four distinct seasons. Geographically, it lies on the east coast of the Eurasian Continent adjacent to the West Pacific. During the winter, from December to January, it is cold and dry under the dominant influence of the Siberian air mass. It is mild and serene during spring and fall with fairly periodic passages of the transient high and low pressure systems. Meanwhile, the summer, from June to August, is hot and humid with frequent heavy rainfalls associated with the East-Asian Monsoon, locally called "Changma" and typhoon.

The annual mean temperature ranges from 10 to 16¡£C except in the high mountain areas. The warmest month is August, whereas January is the coldest one. The monthly mean temperature ranges from 20 to 26¡ÆC in August and from -5 to 5¡ÆC in January. The annual precipitation is about 1,500mm in the southern part of Korea and 1,300mm in the central part. More than half of the annual precipitation falls during the Changma season when a stationary front lingers across the Korean peninsula for about a month in summer. The winter precipitation is less than 10% of the total.

The prevailing wind systems are southwesterly in summer and northwesterly in winter. The speed of the latter is higher than the former in general. During the transition period from southwesterly to northwesterly in September and October, a well developed land-sea breeze emerges as a prominent feature. Humidity reaches the highest in July, marking 70-80 % nationwide. On the contrary, the lowest means of the monthly humidity are 30-40 % in January and April. Meanwhile, the pleasant humidity of September and October contributes to a plentiful harvest.

Changma, a part of summer Asian Monsoon systems, starts from the southern area of Korea in late June and gradually proceeds northward. On the average, Changma continues for 30 days when frequent heavy rains and flash floods result in great natural disasters. Two or three typhoons out of about 28 generated annually in the Northwest Pacific influence the Korean peninsula from June to October.

What is Typhoon?

Typhoon is severe atmospheric disturbance in tropical oceans. Tropical cyclones have very low atmospheric pressures in the calm, clear center (the eye) of a circular structure of rain, cloud, and very high winds. In the Atlantic and Caribbean they are called hurricanes; in the Pacific they are known as typhoons.

Because of the earth's rotation, tropical cyclones rotate

clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Northern. They may be 50-500 mi (80-800km) in diameter, and sustained winds in excess of 100 mph (160kph) are common. In the eye, however, the winds drop abruptly to light breezes or even complete calm. The lowest sea-level pressures on earth occur in or near the eye.
"Rusa"-Powerful typhoon strikes korea
In this summer a powerful typhoon Rusa swept across the Korean peninsula, first smashing the southern island of Cheju, then the harbor and industrial complex at Pusan on the southeast coast, blasting ports, factories and farmland before blowing out to sea. Rescue workers had found 120 bodies, with scores more missing. Damage estimates from Typhoon Rusa, South Korea's worst storm since 1959, have soared well above $2 billion.
Rusa, the Malaysian word for deer, was the most powerful typhoon to hit South Korea since Sarah in 1959, which left more than 840 people dead or missing. North Korea also reported ''huge'' damage from the typhoon but did not disclose details. Up to 23 inches of rain fell in parts of Kangwon and Hwanhae provinces over the weekend, said a report by the North's Korean Central News Agency, monitored in Seoul. Gangneung was one of the worst hit by the typhoon. Many parts of the city of 220,000 people were swamped by waist-high floods after 36 inches of rain fell within 30 hours, the highest precipitation since weather officials began compiling records in the 1930s. More than 17,000 houses and buildings in low-lying areas were submerged, forcing 27,474 residents to take shelter at public buildings and schools, officials said. Floods inundated 12,620 acres of farm land. Red Cross and government authorities rushed blankets, instant noodles and other relief goods to flood victims. Soldiers and police were mobilized for the effort. The typhoon caused floods and landslides in vast sections of the country, destroying parts of key railways and roads. Rusa was the worst disaster in this summer.
Cho, Chung-eun bluet1212@hanmail.net
Shin, Hye-kyeng shk0717@hanmail.net
Most recently updated on October 10, 2002