Chungnam, Decrease in High-Concentration Ozone Alert Days This Year Compared to Last Year

[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] This year, the number of ozone advisory days issued in the Chungnam region decreased compared to the previous year.

According to the Chungnam Provincial Institute of Health and Environment on the 20th, the number of ozone advisory days issued from April 15 to October 15 was 17 days, a decrease of 7 days (29%) from 24 days last year.

However, during the same period, the number of ozone advisory days in the region was found to be higher than the national average of 10.6 days. Nationwide, the area with the most ozone advisories issued was Jeonnam (28 days), followed by Gyeonggi (24 days), Ulsan (23 days), Gyeongnam (22 days), and Chungnam.

Among the 15 cities and counties in Chungnam, ozone advisories were mainly issued in Cheonan (8 days) and Asan (7 days), which have high emissions of ozone precursor substances nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as well as in Seosan (6 days), Taean (5 days), Seocheon (3 days), Boryeong (2 days), and Dangjin (2 days), which are heavily influenced by land-sea breezes.

Conversely, in five cities and counties south of the Charyeong Mountain Range?Gongju, Nonsan, Gyeryong, Buyeo, and Geumsan?ozone alert levels were never exceeded even once, and in addition, ozone advisories were issued for one or two days in Yesan, Hongseong, and Cheongyang.

Ozone is generated at high concentrations when clear weather with high temperatures persists and there is little wind. The issuance criteria are divided into advisory (0.12 ppm or higher), alert (0.3 ppm or higher), and severe alert (0.5 ppm or higher).

Kim Ok, director of the Provincial Institute of Health and Environment, said, “Unlike previous years when high-concentration ozone occurrences were concentrated from May to August, this year showed a phenomenon where 30% (5 days) occurred in September and October as well.” He added, “Since the number of occurrences exceeding the 'bad' level (1-hour average concentration of 0.091 ppm) has steadily increased in Chungnam since 2005, continuous measures to reduce high-concentration ozone occurrences are necessary.”

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