A warmer earth may make the blossoms disappear

Posted on : 2006-11-23 16:15 KST Modified on : 2006-11-23 16:15 KST
Cherry blossoms could leave some areas due to global warming

In the not so distant future, the largest granary on the Korean peninsula will suffer from a water shortage due to climate changes caused by global warming. In addition, the summer is expected to be lengthened by nearly a month, making it difficult to see the festivity of cherry blossoms in the spring.

A team led by Professor Lee Dong-gyu of Seoul National University's School of Earth and Environmental Sciences will announce the results of related research at a seminar on climate changes to be held on Jeju Island on November 23. The Ministry of Environment and the Korea Meteorological Administration will jointly host the seminar.

According to predictions by Professor Lee's team, which has analyzed various meteorological data since 1980, from 2030 to 2049 the temperature of the Korean Peninsula will go up by 1.5 degrees celcius and annual precipitation will be reduced by 80mm, all owing to global warming.

Professor Lee forecast that such higher temperatures and lower precipitation would be notable in the Honam areas (South and North Jeolla province), especially in the Honam Plains, the largest granary in the nation, which will suffer a severe water shortage.

Global warming will affect all four seasons, the team found. The spring will begin five days earlier, and its period will be shortened by 11 days, while summer will begin 16 days earlier, with its period extended 24 days. Global warming is not expected to significantly affect the fall, but winter will start about 10 days later and be shortened by 15 days.

Spring flowers will bloom much earlier, and people in some regions will not be able to enjoy long-held cherry blossom festivals at all. A study performed by a team led by researcher Jeong Jae-eun of Kyung Hee University showed that 60 years in the future, Jinhae in South Gyeongsang Province and Busan may not see the blossoms at all due to the warmer winters. In that case, Jinhae's famous cherry blossom festival would have to disappear.

The study found that the nation's first cherry blossoms may bloom in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, beginning in late February. Currently, people can see the first cherry blossom on the south coast in late March. The research team predicted that in April - the traditional cherry blossom season - the flowers will be witnessed only on high mountain peaks because of warmer temperatures.

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