The wind is blowing strong despite low precipitation and higher temperatures in China and Korea, with yellow dust becoming a serious problem every year due to climate change. Reporter Park Hee-young from the Ministry of Social Affairs provides updates on the yellow dust situation in Korea, with sandstorms expected until tomorrow morning. The national daily average fine dust concentration was lower, but still very bad at 173 micrograms per cubic meter. The national yellow sand crisis warning level has also been raised to caution. The sand from Mongolia and China, which are thousands of kilometers away, does reach Korea due to wind and pressure, and the current new yellow dust in northern China may not affect Korea as southwesterly winds and rain are expected. The root cause is excessive human development, converting grasslands into deserts through excessive grazing, mining, and farming. The Korean government’s Clean Sky Plan aims for fine dust and air pollution reduction through technology and policy development with China, although resolving the domestic problem in China remains challenging. The Korea Meteorological Administration advises the public to avoid outdoor activities, especially for the elderly or those with respiratory conditions, and to wash thoroughly following going outside.
[앵커]
The temperature is higher than normal, and the precipitation is small, but the wind blows a lot. I told you regarding the situation in China, but this is affecting Korea as well.
As climate change accelerates, yellow dust also becomes more serious every year. Do we have to face this wind without countermeasures?
Let’s find out with reporter Park Hee-young of the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Reporter Park, please tell us regarding the yellow dust situation in Korea.
[기자]
Yellow dust, which started the day before yesterday, is observed in most areas of the country today, and sandstorms are expected to blow in Korea until tomorrow morning.
As of 3 p.m. today, the national daily average concentration of fine dust was 173 micrograms per cubic meter (㎥), which was lower than the daily average of 257 micrograms yesterday, which was the worst record this year.
It’s still ‘very bad’.
The national yellow sand crisis warning level also went up from ‘attention’ to ‘caution’ from 7 am yesterday.
This is the first time this year that a yellow dust crisis alert has been issued in all regions of the country.
[앵커]
I told you the news from China earlier. If the yellow dust in China is severe, will Korea be affected unconditionally? Can sand fly this far?
[기자]
Intuitively, yes. It is actually not easy for sand from Mongolia and China, which are thousands of kilometers away, to come to Korea.
Not only does it rise up in the sky with the wind, but it also has to meet the downdraft that comes down to the surface on the Korean Peninsula.
The day before yesterday, as the low pressure that had brought heavy rains across the country escaped and the high pressure settled in the west of the Korean Peninsula, yellow dust came to Korea from the highlands of China and Inner Mongolia following the wind that blew from the north to the south.
[앵커]
Then, there is a new yellow dust in northern China, but is it a situation that can cause another yellow dust in Korea?
[기자]
Yes, today, I was worried because the weather service satellite images showed that yellow dust was blowing in northwest China.
From tomorrow, as southwesterly winds blow into Korea, it is unlikely that yellow dust from North China, such as China’s Inner Mongolia or Beijing, will head to Korea.
In addition, it is expected that it will rain from tomorrow, so it seems that sandstorms will no longer enter the Korean Peninsula.
[앵커]
Yellow dust from China continues to increase in frequency and intensity. We cannot forget regarding climate change. Please elaborate a bit.
[기자]
Yes, first of all, natural factors such as the climate crisis are large.
Because the world is experiencing more frequent and more severe natural disasters due to climate change.
In particular, the yellow dust we experience can be attributed to the desertification of land due to excessive human development.
As China began reform and opening in the 1970s, the desert area that stayed in the west of China is gradually expanding to the east, closer to Korea from our point of view.
The land used for pasture was converted into farmland, animals were grazing excessively, and mines were developed to mine underground resources, so the grasslands turned into deserts.
[앵커]
Wear a mask well for individuals. Close the windows and avoid going out. Is there any solution other than talking? What is our government’s position?
[기자]
Yellow dust itself is a phenomenon that comes from China on the wind, so it is not something that can be solved by the Korean government alone.
Choo Jang-min, a senior researcher at the Korea Environmental Research Institute, also repeatedly emphasized that the yellow dust problem is not a problem exclusive to a specific region or country.
[한국환경연구원 추장민 선임연구위원]
“It can be seen as a situation where international cooperation is more necessary from monitoring to actual industrialization prevention or greenhouse gas reduction.”
[기자]
So, since 2020, the Korean government has also been carrying out the so-called Clean Sky Plan, a project to create clear skies, by discussing future technology and policy development plans for fine dust reduction and air pollution reduction with China.
However, as you heard earlier, the Chinese government is actually facing a serious domestic yellow dust problem, but it is unable to find a sharp solution because of the pressure that economic development cannot be stopped.
For this reason, making efforts such as restricting the operation of old diesel vehicles in Korea or reducing thermal power generation is to reduce domestic fine dust even a little right now.
[앵커]
For those who have a lot of outside activities today and tomorrow, please give us a request.
[기자]
As Corona 19 has recently slowed down, it is possible to go indoors or use public transportation without a mask, but citizens have started wearing masks once more because of the yellow dust.
First of all, the Korea Meteorological Administration urges people to refrain from outdoor activities as much as possible, especially for the elderly or people with respiratory diseases.
In addition to washing thoroughly following going out, it was also requested to check the entrance door and ventilation windows in the workplace from time to time.
In conclusion, yellow dust is not just a problem in China, but it is affecting Korea as well. As climate change continues to accelerate, the severity and frequency of yellow dust will only increase. While there may not be immediate solutions, international cooperation is necessary for monitoring, prevention, and reduction of industrialization and greenhouse gases. It’s important for individuals to take precautions, such as refraining from outdoor activities and wearing masks. The Korean government is also making efforts to reduce domestic fine dust. Let’s all do our part in protecting ourselves and our environment from this growing issue.
