[김성렬교수의 시사영어] Haeundae Fog Mystery

Haeundae is Busan's representative tourist attraction and residential area, but some of its residents complain occasionally about the sea fog, making them hesitate before they open their windows. Befitting its name, is Haeundae (sea cloud) a place that draws sea fogs?

According to Professor Ha Gyung-ja of Busan National University's Department of Earth and Environmental Systems, "Although Haeundae has become widely known as a place named by the great scholar Choi Chi-won, who gave to it his other name Hae-un, in fact more fogs occur around the coastal area of the Kijang Sea, and Haeundae, compared to the Kijang Sea and the West Sea, does not have too many foggy days."

In our country it is lately the vicinity of Jejudo and Heuksando where fogs most frequently develop, on average 70 days out of a year, Professor Ha pointed out. More than half of all fogs last more than 9 hours. By contrast fogs around Haeundae and the Busan region occur 10 to 20 days out of a year, and of these, no more than 5 to 10 percent last more than 9 hours.

Professor Ha described how fogs form around Haeundae and the Kijang Sea: "When the southwesterly and southeasterly winds blow, affected by the Coriolis force (turning force), which is caused by the earth's rotation, the wind blows toward the right (away from the land toward the sea). As the surface seawater of the coast is pushed far out to sea, the cold water underneath comes up to the surface to occupy the space vacated. If warm and moist air flows in and rests on top of the cold surface of the sea, condensation occurs, leading to the formation of fog. This type of fog is called an advection fog.

Advection fogs are common in the months of June and July. Forming a belt around Haeundae and the Kijang coast, the fog comes in toward the land around 10 in the morning when the sea wind blows.

However, fogs in Haeundae have continued to appear recently regardless of the season. Professor Ha explained: "Global warming has led to the generation of fogs in winter, spring (April), fall (September to October)." Fogs caused by global warming are different from advection fogs in the way they are formed. As the temperature of the seawater rises due to global warming, it sends vapor into the air, which condenses when a cold wave suddenly blows in from the north, creating a fog, or more precisely, an evaporating fog.

Professor Ha said: "If visibility is within 1km, the fog is considered dense; if within 1 to 2 km, it is called light. In contrast to advection fogs, which are stable and therefore of long duration, evaporating fogs are unstable, vanishing quickly. Research into the cause and duration of fogs among other questions helps to prevent major fog-related accidents, she added.

"If this kind of fog comes in and covers like a veil the white sandy beach of Haeundae, Dongbaek Island, Dalmaji Hillside, and other places, the resulting scene is one of beauty and mystery. As well as not harming health, the fog will also quickly disappear once the sun rises. Busan residents need not worry." She said. According to Hong Yeon-Jin, a full-time member of the Busan Historical Research Society, "there is no historical record connecting fogs with the origin of the place name Haeundae. It was merely the result of Choi Chi-won in the late Silla period carving his other name on a rock pedestal, which he set up after he passed through the entrance trail to Mount Gaya, dazzled by the scenic beauty of Haeundae, Dongbaek Island, and the surrounding area."(한글 내용은 www.busanilbo.com 1월 28일자 21면) urizen@dau.ac.kr
/ 입력시간: 2008. 02.19. 09:36