Abstract
Due to the global-convection currents, transboundary transport of air pollutants is widely observed in many regions of the world. This study was carried out to investigate the pattern of long-range transport of air pollutants in North East Asia, especially the impact of air pollutants originated in China and Japan on the air quality in Korea. From the meteorological data at the 850 mb surface from May 1986 through April 1987 at 54 obsevation stations in the North East Asia region, the backward and forward trajectories were calculated using interpolation method. And the contributions of pollution sources in neighbor countries to the air quality in Korea were analyzed. It was concluded that air pollution in China had a great influence on the air quality in Korea throughout the year : it could be transported to Korea just within 2 or 3 days most of the time. The trajectory analysis showed that pollution sources in Beijing. Liaoning Province, and Shandong Province, the most heavily industrialized areas in China., were the most influential for the air quality in Korea except for summer season. Durnig summer season, the air pollution in Shanhai and Japan could have moer influence on Korea. Such transboundary transport of air pollutants necessitate international cowork and cooperation in the region of North East Asia.