Regional distribution of perceived temperatures estimated by the human heat budget model (the Klima-Michel model) in South Korea

Abstract

The regional distribution of perceived temperatures (PT) for 28 major weather stations in South Korea during the past 22 years (1983–2004) was investigated by employing a human heat budget model, the Klima-Michel model. The frequencies of a cold stress and a heat load by each region were compared. The sensitivity of PT in terms of the input of synoptic meteorological variables were successfully tested. Seogwipo in Jeju Island appears to be the most comfortable city in Korea. Busan also shows a high frequency in the comfortable PT range. The frequency of the thermal comfort in Seoul is similar to that of Daejeon with a relatively low frequency. In this study, inland cities like Daegu and Daejeon had very hot thermal sensations. Low frequencies of hot thermal sensations appeared in coastal cities (e.g., Busan, Incheon, and Seogwipo). Most of the 28 stations in Korea exhibited a comfort thermal sensation over 40% in its frequency, except for the mountainous regions. The frequency of a heat load is more frequent than that of a cold stress. There are no cities with very cold thermal sensations. In this study, we found the decreasing trend of mortality with an increasing PT. If the PT is over any critical temperature point, however, the mortality rate increases again. The mortality variation with the PT of a station seems to be associated with the latitudinal location of the station, implying that it results from a regional acclimation effect of inhabitants.