The 12-meter-high air intake tower at the Jeju Gosan Global Atmosphere Watch Station on April 29. Air collected in the box at the top travels through the black tube to the analysis equipment. Courtesy of the Korea Meteorological Administration
On April 29, the view of the western sea from the Jeju Gosan Global Atmosphere Watch Station, perched on a coastal cliff, was completely unobstructed. A sea-scented breeze, mixed with a few raindrops, blew on the cloudy day.
Global Atmosphere Watch Stations produce baseline data used for worldwide climate change analysis by collecting air with minimal artificial influence from the surroundings, such as industrial facilities. The monitored targets include greenhouse gases that cause climate change, like carbon dioxide and methane, as well as aerosol particles affecting air quality and stratospheric ozone.
A view of the Jeju Gosan Global Atmosphere Watch Station. Located on a coastal cliff, it collects and analyzes air with minimal artificial influence from the surroundings. Courtesy of the Korea Meteorological Administration
The World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) program, launched in 1989, was established to produce data necessary for predicting future climate change by observing the chemical composition and physical properties of the atmosphere across the globe. It provides the scientific basis for climate policies. Approximately 540 observatories in over 100 countries participate in GAW.
As part of its participation in GAW, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) currently operates four Global Atmosphere Watch Stations, including Jeju Gosan, Anmyeondo, Ulleungdo·Dokdo, and Pohang. The Jeju Gosan station, which opened in 2008 and was registered with GAW in 2013, currently observes 26 different elements.
Kim Soo-min, a researcher at the KMA’s Earth Atmosphere Watch Research Division, introduces the Jeju Gosan Global Atmosphere Watch Station and its observation equipment. Courtesy of the Korea Meteorological Administration
● Drying Unpolluted Air for Precise Component Analysis
On this day, various weather observation instruments were operating on the station’s lawn. The most crucial process in global atmosphere watch is collecting the surrounding air as it is and precisely analyzing its components. Air collected from the top of the 12-meter-high air intake tower travels through a tube to the pre-treatment room.
The pre-treatment equipment, operating at minus 80℃, completely removes water vapor from the air by freezing it. There are three main reasons for removing moisture.
Pre-treatment equipment that freezes and removes water vapor from the collected air. Courtesy of the Korea Meteorological Administration
Kim Soo-min, a researcher at the KMA’s Earth Atmosphere Watch Research Division, explained, “The density of air changes depending on its moisture content. We remove water vapor to ensure equivalent comparisons, no matter where in the world the measurements are taken.” It’s similar to fasting for an accurate health check-up.
Furthermore, water molecules in the air can interfere with the accurate measurement of components like carbon dioxide, causing errors. From an equipment management perspective, high moisture intake can also lead to malfunctions.
Researcher Kim Soo-min explaining the gas chromatography equipment used to analyze air components. Courtesy of the Korea Meteorological Administration
Techniques such as laser absorption spectroscopy and gas chromatography are used to measure the signals of various substances in the dry air to determine their concentrations. Data is measured in seconds and processed into hourly units. The data is made public through the Climate Change Information Portal or Statistics Korea and will be used in publications like the Global Atmosphere Watch Report and reports from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Researcher Kim explained, “Gosan is an excellent location for measuring atmospheric components because the wind comes directly from an area with no direct pollution sources.”
A facility at the Jeju Gosan Global Atmosphere Watch Station for intensively measuring the concentrations of 50 types of fluorine-containing artificial substances, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which exist in trace amounts in the atmosphere. It is a contracted observatory led by a research team from Kyungpook National University. Courtesy of the Korea Meteorological Administration
On one side of the station, there is also a facility for intensively measuring the concentrations of 50 types of fluorine-containing artificial substances, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which exist in trace amounts in the atmosphere. It is a contracted observatory led by a research team from Kyungpook National University. In addition to the Global Atmosphere Watch Stations, the KMA operates a total of seven contracted observatories in locations including Antarctica.
In addition to fixed observatories, the KMA uses meteorological aircraft and weather observation ships to perform mobile tasks, such as directly observing carbon aerosols over the West Sea when needed.
“To forecast the climate outlook, current global atmosphere monitoring is essential,” emphasized Kang Hyoun-seok, President of the National Institute of Meteorological Sciences.
Lee Su-jeong, a researcher at the KMA’s Earth Atmosphere Watch Research Division, explaining the work of the World Calibration Center for Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6). Courtesy of the Korea Meteorological Administration
● Managing the World Standard for ‘Sulfur Hexafluoride,’ which Causes Warming for 1,000 Years
Because the observed substances exist in very small quantities in the atmosphere, it is necessary to adhere to observation standards in addition to precise measurement. The standards must be the same everywhere in the world for meaningful result interpretation.
The National Institute of Meteorological Sciences operates the World Calibration Center for sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), a synthetic greenhouse gas. This center verifies whether SF6 measurements from other observatories meet the standard and manages data quality.
Standard gas cylinders stored at the National Institute of Meteorological Sciences’ World Calibration Center for Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6). Courtesy of the Korea Meteorological Administration
Sulfur hexafluoride, used as an insulating gas in high-tech manufacturing industries like semiconductors and displays, currently exists in the atmosphere at a level of about one part per trillion. Although the amount is very small, once released, it remains for over 1,000 years and contributes about 24,300 times more to global warming than carbon dioxide. Its atmospheric concentration has been rapidly increasing since the 1970s.
“The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) creates the primary standard gas by counting each molecule one by one and then sends it to Korea,” said Lee Su-jeong, a researcher in the Earth Atmosphere Watch Research Division. “We then supply reference gases produced based on this primary standard to verify SF6 measurements.” She added, “It’s a demanding job that requires know-how, with meticulous equipment maintenance like maintaining temperature and pressure conditions.”
The cloud chamber installed at the National Institute of Meteorological Sciences. A 3-meter chamber is located inside a 7-meter-high isolated space. Courtesy of the Korea Meteorological Administration
● ‘Cloud Chamber’ for Simulating Geoengineering
To verify the performance of ‘geoengineering’ technologies that artificially curb climate change, as well as the effects of climate change itself, it is crucial to predict how changes in atmospheric composition will actually affect weather phenomena.
The National Institute of Meteorological Sciences houses a high-performance ‘cloud chamber’ that can generate ice crystals and control temperature and pressure to observe the actual cloud formation process, drawing attention from atmospheric scientists worldwide.
Inside the cloud chamber. Courtesy of the Korea Meteorological Administration
The cloud chamber consists of a 3-meter chamber within a 7-meter-high isolated space. This double structure minimizes external influences, making it easier to precisely control variables. The temperature can be adjusted from +60℃ to -50℃ within five minutes. Besides Korea, only Japan, Germany, and China have double-structured cloud chambers of a similar scale.
The cloud chamber can be used to test cloud seeding models for artificial rain, new observation sensors like frost sensors, and changes in atmospheric aerosols.
Cha Ju-wan, a researcher at the KMA’s Weather Application Research Department, explained, “Even with the same aerosol, the pattern of ice crystal formation and the amount of precipitation can differ depending on the source. The cloud chamber allows for quantitative analysis and model improvement.”
Researcher Cha Ju-wan from the KMA’s Weather Application Research Department introducing the aerosol chamber connected to the cloud chamber. Courtesy of the Korea Meteorological Administration
The main building of the Jeju Gosan Global Atmosphere Watch Station. Courtesy of the Korea Meteorological Administration
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