Researchers believe that creating green space by connecting urban forests in the city could see the temperature drop in adjacent areas, as breezes travel through the forested areas. (Image: Seoul Research Institute of Public Health and Environment)
SEOUL, Jul. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — A new environmental research project is set to be launched that will study the positive effect of urban forests on tackling the fine dust problem in the South Korean capital.
The Seoul Research Institute of Public Health and Environment, a division of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, announced on Thursday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Forest Research Institute on a collective research project dedicated to identifying the correlation between air quality and urban forests.
Researchers believe that creating green space by connecting urban forests in the city could see the temperature drop in adjacent areas, as breezes travel through the forested areas.
By doing so, fine dust particles could spread across a wider area, bringing down fine dust levels as a result.
The researchers said, “Compared to 2015, wind velocity decreased by 0.4 meters per second while the average temperature of the earth reached a record high, both of which were found to have contributed to the increased ultra-fine dust levels in Seoul. The declining green area ratio is relevant here also.
“According to data released last month by the Korea Forest Research Institute, fine dust levels recorded in urban forests were 25.6 percent lower on average while ultra-fine levels were 40.9 percent lower on average.”
Based on the findings, researchers hope to draw up urban environmental measures to tackle the issues of air pollution and global warming.
M.H.Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
