The Main Cause of Heatwaves 'Greenhouse Gases'... "Rapid Increase in Concentration on the Korean Peninsula Due to China"

Seoul National University Professor Jeong Sujong's Team Analyzes Causes of Increased Carbon Dioxide Concentration

Reference photo

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Amid the rapidly worsening global warming and the consequent drastic changes in the climate across the Korean Peninsula, a study has revealed that the concentration of carbon dioxide, the main culprit of the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere over the Korean Peninsula, is rising more rapidly than in other countries worldwide due to China.

According to Seoul National University on the 1st, Professor Jung Soo-jong of the Graduate School of Environmental Studies and Dr. Yoon Jung-min of the Environmental Planning Research Institute at the university developed the first domestic modeling system capable of integrating and diagnosing various causes that increase carbon dioxide concentration over the Korean Peninsula. Their analysis led to this conclusion. Professor Jung’s team identified the causes of the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations in South Korea and North Korea from 2000 to 2016.

In particular, they quantitatively calculated the contribution rates of factors contributing to the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide over South Korea and North Korea, including changes in emissions due to economic growth, carbon absorption by forest vegetation and carbon emissions through soil respiration, ocean physical and biogeochemical processes, carbon emissions from land-use changes, and long-range effects from atmospheric transport.

As a result, it was analyzed that from 2000 to 2016, the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration in South Korea and North Korea, located in the downwind layer of China, was rising faster than in other regions. In South Korea, the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration increased at an annual average rate of 2.32 ppm, which is 13% (0.27 ppm) steeper than the global average increase rate of 2.05 ppm. The increased fossil fuel energy supply to support rapid economic growth driven by manufacturing and exports was found to have raised atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration by 0.12 ppm. Although the terrestrial ecosystem’s absorption increased, it only accounted for an annual increase of 0.02 ppm, which was insufficient to suppress the anthropogenic concentration rise.

In the case of North Korea, the concentration was also predicted to increase rapidly at an annual average rate of 2.23 ppm, exceeding the global average increase rate of 2.05 ppm. This phenomenon is far removed from the trend of approaching carbon neutrality due to reduced industrial activity and carbon dioxide emissions caused by U.S. sanctions.

The research team analyzed that this was due to the increase in carbon dioxide emitted externally, including from China, flowing into the airspace over the Korean Peninsula. The increase in China-originated carbon dioxide caused an annual concentration rise effect of 2.23 ppm and 2.27 ppm in South Korea and North Korea, respectively.

The research team stated, "Economic activities are the main factors causing regional differences in the rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration within the Korean Peninsula, and from a global perspective, atmospheric transport was the primary cause of the steeper increase compared to the global average." They added, "This suggests that to establish effective strategies for achieving carbon neutrality at the national level, it is essential to accurately separate the impacts of atmospheric transport and local emission sources."