Three days of freezing cold followed by four days of milder weather was the typical cycle for Korea’s winters until recent years, which saw people fighting to keep warm during unusual long-lasting cold spells. But according to the latest predictions by the Meteorological Administration Agency, the intense cold of the past several winters will not be found this year and there is a high possibility of Korea’s unique winter weather pattern returning.

The Han River froze over last winter (Photo: Yonhap news).

The climate pattern is called "Sam-han, sa-on" in Korean. Usually found on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast China, the phenomenon emerges as continental high pressure follows a pattern of developing and weakening during a seven-day period. During winter, Siberian high pressure and Aleutian low pressure systems build up on the Korean Peninsula, pushing and pulling each other.

In recent years the phenomenon disappeared, especially last winter which set records for low temperatures. Subzero temperatures lasted for 35 days from December 29 until February 1 in Busan and the temperature fell to -12.8 Celsius in January, breaking the record low from 96 years ago. Records were broken all around the peninsula, including in Pohang which had 28.7 centimeters of snowfall and the west coast region which had 40 centimeters.

The lower-than-usual winter temperatures of recent years can be attributed to the gradual warming of the Arctic region as a side-effect of global climate change. Analysis suggests that, as temperatures in the Arctic went up ten degrees above average, the ring of wind currents that had acted as a barrier to keep cold air within the region broke down. With this barrier weakened, cold Arctic air that had previously been trapped in the polar region could move southward. The prediction, then, that the regular cycle of colder temperatures followed by milder temperatures will return to Korea, stems from the consensus that changes in the Arctic region have not been as dramatic as of late.

Children play in the snow (Photo: Yonhap news).

To help citizens prepare for the cold days ahead, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has introduced several tips for staying healthy during the winter season.

To stay healthy when indoors, the KCDC recommends doing light indoor exercises, drinking water or lightly sweetened drinks to stay sufficiently hydrated, keeping indoor temperatures at 18 to 20 degrees, and opening doors and windows two to three times a day to encourage circulation. In case of frostbite, any tight-fitting shoes or clothes should be removed and affected areas of the body should be soaked in warm water to prevent loss of body heat before examination at a hospital.

In addition, consuming Korean fermented foods such as kimchi, cheonggukjang, and soy sauce, along with brown rice, grains, and vegetables rich in minerals and vitamins, will help to strengthen the immune system and prevent colds. Teas made with doraji, maekmoondong, and omija are recommended as a healthy and tasty winter drink. The herbs are known to provide health benefits such as improved blood circulation and respiratory health, and will also help to ward off colds.


By Lee Seung-ah
Korea.net Staff Writer
[Source: Korea.net]