ed Steps against yellow dust
The worst yellow dust in four years blanketed the peninsula from Sunday to Monday. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) lifted its yellow dust advisories for Seoul and its surrounding areas, along with Gangwon Province, Monday night, but people had to grapple with the aftermath of the dust pollution even on Tuesday.
The density of fine-particle pollution in Seoul was 1,044 micrograms per cubic meter early Monday morning, 25 times higher than normal. The pollution density in the central Chungcheong and western Jeolla provinces was 10 to 20 times higher than normal.
This year’s first yellow dust originated in southern Mongolia and northern China as soil in the region was more exposed because of low precipitation. The dust flew to the peninsula on a strong northwesterly wind.
Fortunately, the weather agency expects this spring’s yellow dust season to be milder than usual, but warned against another onslaught of yellow sand in March.
The dust is made up of particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter and can easily be inhaled. This can cause respiratory and other illnesses, even in healthy people.
In the event of a yellow dust advisory, people are urged to stay indoors. If they go out, they should wear protective glasses and masks. But these are not enough in view of the looming public health concerns associated with the seasonal yellow dust.
To reduce the sandstorm that causes yellow dust, it is necessary to prevent or decelerate the desertification in China and Mongolia.
China seems to be doing what it can, including creating forest zones. In their July summit talks, Seoul and Beijing agreed to press ahead with a joint project to share observational data concerning fine dust in real time. But it is questionable if the neighboring countries are making headway in this environmental cooperation.
Given that experts estimate that 30-40 percent of the yellow dust originating in China flies over to the peninsula, we cannot overemphasize the importance of heightened cooperation with Beijing when it comes to stamping out yellow dust.
The bigger problem is Mongolia, which is struggling with a chronic shortage of funds for environmental projects. Nearly 90 percent of the Central Asian country’s land is allegedly vulnerable to desertification, too.
That’s why the Seoul government should pay far more attention to environmental cooperation with Mongolia aimed at preventing its fast-paced desertification. To this end, economic aid will be essential.
More fundamentally, it’s imperative for South Korea and other Asian countries to forge international solidarity to discuss deterring Mongolia’s desertification.