Abstract

Trends of daily maximum and minimum temperatures in major cities of South Korea (Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, and Ulsan) during the past 40 years (1961-2000) were investigated. Temperature records for the Chupungryeong station were compared with those of the large cities because of the rural environment of the station. There were distinct warming trends at all stations, although the warming rates depend on each station's local climate and environment. The warming rates in Korea are much greater than the global warming trends, by a factor of 3 to 4. The most increasing rate in daily maximum temperature was at Busan with $0.43^{\circ}C$ per decade, the most increasing rate in daily minimum temperature was at Daegu with $0.44^{\circ}C$ per decade. In general, the warming trends of the cities were most pronounced in winter season with an increasing rate of $0.5^{\circ}C$/decade at least. Diurnal temperature range shows positive or negative trends according to the regional climate and environmental change. The frequency distribution of the daily temperatures for the past 40 years at Seoul and Chupungryeong shows that there have been reductions in cold day frequencies at both stations. The results imply that the impacts on human health might be positive in winter and adverse in summer if the regional warming scenario by the current regional climate model reflects future climate change in Korea.

Keywords

• Temperature trends;
• Biometeorology;
• Climate change;
• Global warming;
• Human health;
• Temperature extreme;
• Urbanization