Difference in Carbon Dioxide Concentration Between Seoul Downtown and Surrounding Areas Larger Than in Paris and Boston

First Domestic Estimation of Citywide Emissions... Heating and Transportation Sectors Are the Main Causes

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The difference in carbon dioxide concentration between downtown Seoul and background areas was found to be higher than in other major cities such as Paris, France, and Boston, USA.

Seoul City announced on the 19th that, based on observations of carbon dioxide concentrations at four locations within the city from July last year to February this year, downtown Seoul showed levels 27 ppm higher in summer and 20 ppm higher in winter compared to background areas.

This is the first time in Korea that actual atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have been measured and compared between urban and background areas, identifying for the first time domestically the 'urban enhancement' of carbon dioxide, which refers to the increase caused by emissions within the city itself.

Carbon dioxide is widely known as a primary cause of climate changes such as heavy rainfall and is emitted through human activities including the use of fossil fuels.

The Seoul Institute of Health and Environment and the Climate Convergence Science Laboratory at Seoul National University (Professor Jeong Su-jong) signed an agreement in May last year for greenhouse gas monitoring and research in Seoul. They have been observing carbon dioxide concentrations at the Seoul Institute of Health and Environment observation site installed at the lower part of Namsan Seoul Tower and Gwanaksan, as well as at the Seoul National University observation sites installed at Yongsan and the upper part of Namsan Seoul Tower.

As a result, the Yongsan observation site, located in the center of Seoul and suitable for observing the impact of artificial carbon dioxide emissions, showed the highest concentration at 448 ppm. Gwanaksan, located at an altitude of 630 meters and representing a background area, showed 423 ppm, making the urban concentration up to 25 ppm higher than the background. The concentrations at the lower and upper parts of Namsan were 444 ppm and 434 ppm, respectively.

Comparing Seoul's urban enhancement (20?27 ppm) with other cities, it is lower than LA's 30 ppm and Beijing's 28 ppm but higher than Paris's 7 ppm and Boston's 16 ppm.

The research team attributes the high carbon dioxide concentration in downtown Seoul mainly to building heating and transportation.

The results of this study were published online on July 30 in the Asia-Pacific Journal of Atmospheric Sciences.

Earlier, on July 8, Seoul City announced the '2050 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy,' which includes greenhouse gas reduction policies in five major sectors?buildings, transportation, forests, energy, and resource circulation?with the goal of achieving a carbon-neutral city by 2050 to proactively respond to the climate crisis.

Shin Yong-seung, director of the Seoul Institute of Health and Environment, said, "As citizens have become more aware of the climate crisis due to the longest rainy season and record-breaking heavy rains, the importance of carbon dioxide monitoring, a representative greenhouse gas causing climate change, is also increasing. Based on observation data, we will scientifically and actively support understanding Seoul's carbon dioxide emission characteristics and enhancing the effectiveness of reduction policies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.