Characterization of Aerosol Concentration during Severe Asian Dust Period at Busan, Korea in 20 March 2010

Abstract

Asian dust (or yellow sand) occurring mainly in spring in East Asia is affected by the distribution of weather systems. This study was performed to investigate the characteristics of suspended particulate for Asian dust at Busan, Korea in 20 March 2010, which was one of the extreme case for the last 10 years. There was used the data of weather chart, satellite, automatic weather system (AWS), PM10, laser particle counter (LPC), and backward trajectories model.In synoptically, the high pressure was located in the northwestern part and low pressure was located in the northeastern part of Korea. The strong westerly winds from surface to upper layer makes it possible to move air masses rapidly. Air masses passing through Gobi Desert in Mongolia and Inner Mongolia plateau covered the entire Korean peninsula. As the results of aerosol analysis, PM10 concentration at Gudeok mountain in Busan was recorded 2,344 ㎍/m 3 in 2300 LST 20 March 2010 and their concentration was markedly increased at coarse mode particle. In surface condition, westerly wind about 3 ∼ 5 m/s was dominant and small particles of 0.3 ∼ 0.5 ㎛ were distributed on the whole. In heavy metal components analysis, the elements from the land was predominated.