Four Seasons of Korea, pleasant and beautiful
Korea is geographically situated in a temperate climate zone at
medium latitude. As a result, it has four distinct seasons. In general, spring
is from March to May, summer from June to August, autumn from September to
November, and winter from December to February. The weather in spring and
autumn is clear and dry due to the influence of anticyclones, the location of
Korea on the North Pacific Edge makes summer hot and humid, and in winter,
continental high pressure brings cold and dry weather.
>> Spring,
Season of Budding Flowers
The
spring season is usually between March and May. The warm weather causes trees
and grass to bud, butthe temperature can also vary greatly causing phenomenon
like spring colds*(see below). The daily temperature range* varies greatly in
the spring and the weather is dry*. The Asian dust phenomenon* and
northeasterly winds* are most prominent during this time. Various flowers bloom
in the mild and warm spring weather. Azaleas, forsythias, and royal azaleas are
forerunners of spring in Korea. In April and May, the flowers are in full
bloom, attracting people to mountains and parks. In rural areas, spring is the
time to start planting rice, potatoes, sow vegetable seeds, and pruning
branches of fruit trees.
* Spring colds
Spring
colds usually occur in early spring. This phenomenon is caused by the Siberian
air mass rising in the winter, which lasts until early spring. Spring colds
accompany strong winds and a significant drop in temperature, so it feels like
the winter season is back. The phenomenon usually occurs two or three times in
early spring.
* Daily temperature range
The
daily temperature range measures the difference between the lowest temperature
in the morning and the highest temperature in the daytime. The range is usually
high in the spring. The temperature range is even wider in the mountainous
regions of Gangwon-do Province where the morning temperature goes down to
around -2 degrees Celsius and the daytime temperature rises to as high as 17 to
18 degrees Celsius.
*Dryness
Spring
is a dry season in Korea. The weather is particularly dry in early April and
there are many mountain fires during this period. The weather is mostly
affected by the air mass from the Yangzi River, which is separated from the
Siberian air mass. This phenomenon is known as a migratory anticyclone, which
brings clear and dry weather.
* Asian dust phenomenon
In the
spring, sandy dusts are carried by wind from the Gobi Desert and fly as far as
Korea. When the National Weather Service predicts severe Asian dust, people are
advised to wear masks as to protect from possible eye or respiratory irritation.
*Northeasterly wind
Also
called Foehn, the Northeasterly wind is a hot and dry local wind rising from
valleys between late spring and early summer. When the humid and cold wind from
the East Sea ascends the Taebaeksanmaek Mountain Range, the temperature falls.
After pouring rain on the mountains, the wind loses its moisture and as the
wind descends the other side of the mountain, it turns hot and dry. Due to the
heat and dryness of the wind, the regions west of the Taebaeksanmaek Mountain
Range sometimes face damages to their agricultural crops.
★
>> Autumn,
season of bountiful harvests
The
autumn season in Korea is between September and November. The weather is cool
and crisp, and the sky is blue with few clouds. Koreans refer to autumn as the
season of cheongomabi*. The heat of summer still seems to linger in September
with the daytime being hot, but the weather is cool in the morning and evening.
In October, there is less precipitation and the humidity in the air decreases,
resulting in crisp and enjoyable weather. In late summer to early autumn,
typhoons rising from the South Pacific may occur. Autumn is also a season of
beautiful falling leaves. Gingko trees and maple trees change their hues to
yellow and crimson throughout Korea. During this time, Koreans love to go
hiking in the mountains to enjoy the picturesque landscape created by autumn
leaves. Mountains and famous autumn leaves spots around the nation are bustling
with people during this time of the year. Autumn is also the season of
bountiful harvest, with rice, sweet potatoes, apples, pears, and jujube
ripening.
*Cheongomabi
Literally
meaning "the sky is high and horses get fat," cheongomabi is often
used to describe the autumn season. In this season, the sky is particularly
blue and clear, so it is great for outings, and the harvest season makes for
plenty of food to eat.
>> Summer,
season of heat
The
summer is usually between June and August, with the hottest month being August
when the mean temperature is between 23 and 26 degrees Celsius. The dryness
characterizing winter and spring disappears in summer, which is a time of high
temperature and humidity. The weather is generally sultry, resulting in a high
discomfort index. The use of air conditioners and electric fans shoots up
during this time of the year. The weather is particularly hot between the end
of July and end of August. Due to the high humidity, people feel that it is
hotter than it actually is. Generally, the period between the end of June and
mid July is the rainy season in Korea. During this time there is no scorching
heat. However, there can be clouds and frequent rainfalls for as short as a
week to as long as three weeks.
The frequency of rainy spells called jangma* and typhoons can directly cause damage to crops as. In the summer, there are lots of fruits like watermelons, melons, and peaches, as well as vegetables, and the fields and mountains are covered with greens. To escape the scorching heat, people go to the mountains, sea, or valleys to spend their summer holidays.
The frequency of rainy spells called jangma* and typhoons can directly cause damage to crops as. In the summer, there are lots of fruits like watermelons, melons, and peaches, as well as vegetables, and the fields and mountains are covered with greens. To escape the scorching heat, people go to the mountains, sea, or valleys to spend their summer holidays.
*Jangma
Jangma refers to the rainy spell in summer.
This phenomenon is caused by a seasonal rain front that lingers across East
Asia from east to west. The precipitation during the jangma accounts for a
significant percentage of the annual rainfall in Korea. This season also occurs
shortly after rice crops are planted, so the rainfall can considerably affect
the rice harvest.
>> Winter,
season of snow
Winter
in Korea is usually between December and February, with the average temperature
in January, the coldest month, ranging between minus six degrees and three
degrees Celsius. The days with the lowest temperatures in the winter are
usually between the middle and end of January. In winter, the days are shorter
with the sunrise occurring later and the sunset occurring earlier. Usually, a
cycle of three days of cold weather followed by four days of warmer days
(samhansaon*) is repeated. The mountainous regions in Gangwon-do Province
receive snowfall starting in early winter, with the weather being very cold and
dry due to the wind blowing in from Siberia. Major holidays between the months of
December and February are Christmas, New Year, and Lunar New Year, and the
months of February and early March are the time for graduation ceremonies and
the start of school. In rural areas, arable land is left to rest until farming
resumes in the spring and some vegetables are grown in vinyl greenhouses. A
unique practice in the winter between November and December is gimjang*, which
is the preparation of large quantities of kimchi to eat throughout winter.
* Samhansaon phenomenon
Samhansaon
refers to the phenomenon where three days of cold weather are followed by four
warmer days. This climatic occurrence often takes place in the Northeastern
part of China and Korea during wintertime. The phenomenon follows a seven-day
cycle in which the continental high pressure becomes strong and then weakens.
The ratio of the high pressure’s rising cycle and falling cycle is about 3 to
4, thus the name samhansaon (three cold days, four warmer days). Though the
climatic change traditionally occurred in a 7-day cycle, it has become less
predictable due to climate change.
*Gimjang
Gimjang
refers to the preparation of large quantities of kimchi to eat throughout
winter. It is a special event in Korean households that takes place somewhere
between late autumn and early winter. Kimchi made during this time is called
gimjang kimchi. Korean cabbage is the main ingredient, and the seasoning is
made with radishes, water parsley, garlic, spring onions, ginger, salt, salted
fish, and red pepper powder. The gimjang kimchi is carefully stored to last
throughout the wintertime.
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