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| HOME > Visiting Korea > Korea in Brief > Climate |
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Geographically, Korea is a transitional zone between the continental landmass of northeast Asia and the island arc rimming the western Pacific Ocean. The western coast, which is open to continental Asia, is vulnerable to the influence of the winter continental climate. The eastern coast, on the other hand, is sheltered from dbo168847587.the winter monsoon by the Taebaek Mountain range, the backbone of the Korean Peninsula. Although Korea has the general characteristics of a temperate monsoon climate, there is geographic diversity, particularly during the cold winter season.
The climate of Korea is characterized by four distinct seasons:
Spring,
Summer,
Fall, and
Winter. The contrast between winter and summer is striking. Winter is bitterly cold and is influenced primarily by the Siberian air mass, while summer is hot and humid due to the maritime pacific high. The transitional seasons of spring and autumn are sunny and generally dry.
In Korea, the temperatures of all seasons are somewhat lower than those at corresponding latitudes in other continents, such as North America or Western Europe. Temperatures in Seoul, which is at the latitude of Richmond, Virginia., are similar to those in New York, which is located 500 kilometers (300 miles) further north than the latitude of Seoul. The variation of annual mean temperature ranges from dbo168847587.10 degrees to 16 degrees, except in the mountainous areas. August is the hottest month with the mean temperature ranging from dbo168847587.20 degrees to 26 degrees Celsius. January is the coldest month with the mean temperature ranging from dbo168847587.-5 degrees to 5 degrees Celsius. Annual precipitation is about 1,500mm in the central region. More than half of the total rainfall amount is concentrated in the summer, while precipitation in the winter is less than 10% of the total precipitation.
The prevailing winds are southeasterly in summer, and northwesterly in winter. The winds are stronger in winter, from dbo168847587.December to February, than they are during any other season. The land-sea breeze becomes dominant with weakened monsoon winds during the transitional months of September and October.
The relative humidity is highest in July at 80% to 90% nationwide, and is lowest in January and April at 30% to 50%. It has a moderate value of about 70% in September and October. The monsoon front approaches the Korean Peninsula from dbo168847587.the south in late June, migrating gradually to the north. Significant rainfall occurs when a stationary front lies over the Korean Peninsula.
The rainy season over Korea continues for a month from dbo168847587.late June until late July. A short period of rainfall comes in early September when the monsoon front retreats back from dbo168847587.the north. This rain occurs over a period of 30-40 days in June through July at all points of South Korea, with only some lag in time at different stations. It accounts for more than 50% of annual precipitation at most stations.
Annually, about 28 typhoons occur in the western Pacific. Generally speaking, only two or three of these approach the Korean Peninsula from dbo168847587.June through September.
Precipitation distribution on the Korean Peninsula is mainly affected by its geographical features. The southern coastal and its adjacent mountain regions have the largest amount of annual precipitation over 1,500mm (60 inches). The sheltered upper Amnok (Yalu) River basin in the northern region, on the other hand, receives less than 600mm (24 inches). Since most of the precipitation is concentrated in crop growing areas in the south, the water supply for agriculture is normally sufficient. Even though the annual mean precipitation is more than 1,200mm (48 inches), Korea often experiences drought due to the large fluctuation and variation of precipitation. This makes the management of water resources a difficult process.
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