118-Year-Old Meteorological Observation Data to Become Cultural Heritage

'Records of Mokpo Weather Station Observations' Including 680 Items Such as Observation Logs
Observed and Recorded at Mokpo Weather Station Since March 25, 1904

Observation Night Field Sign

The Mokpo Weather Station is one of the starting points of modern meteorological observation in Korea. It was established on March 5, 1904, as a temporary observation post of the Japanese Central Meteorological Observatory in Okdo-ri, Haewi-myeon, Sinan-gun. It was intended for wartime use. At that time, there was a Japanese naval base on Okdo engaged in war with Russia.

The Mokpo Weather Station began meteorological observations on March 25, 1904, and moved in 1906 to near Yudalsan in Daedong, Mokpo. Observations continued for about 90 years until it was newly relocated to Yeonsan-dong, Mokpo, in 1997. Meteorological information observed for over 110 years remains in observation logs. These are records containing necessary meteorological observation data such as wind direction, wind speed, cloud patterns, humidity, and maximum and minimum temperatures.

The National Meteorological Museum preserves materials created from 1904 to 1963. On the 4th, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced that the "Mokpo Weather Station Meteorological Observation Records" will be collectively managed as a national registered cultural heritage. There are 524 observation logs recording meteorological element values 5 to 6 times daily, 55 monthly report originals, 85 annual report originals, and 16 multi-year report originals, totaling 680 items. The major characteristics of climatic phenomena, such as occurrence time and intensity, are described in detail. The observations are evaluated to be comparable to modern meteorological observations by minimizing instrument errors through calibration.

Observation record on March 25, 1904

Park Suhyang, an officer of the Modern Cultural Heritage Division of the Cultural Heritage Utilization Bureau, said, "These materials represent the history of modern meteorological observation in Korea," and explained, "The records are systematic and continuous enough to understand past meteorological phenomena and climate characteristics in the Honam region." She added, "They can be utilized for various studies such as climate change and extreme weather."

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