Analysis of Urban Warming Phenomenon using Degree days in Major Korean Cities

Characteristics of urban wanning phenomenon were studied using degree days for three big cities(Seoul, Busan, Daegu) adjacent to airport. Time variation of the cooling and heating degree days was analyzed using the daily mean air temperature data measured at the six meteorological observatory for long-term periods(25～43years). The results for the big cities are as followings: 1) It was found that the heating degree days trended to decrease from year to year. 2) The cooling degree days were nearly unchanged during the same analysis periods. 3) The number of days calling for air-heating also tended to decrease as time passes. 4) Those of air-cooling were nearly unchanged during the same time. It suggests that the change of air-heating condition owing to urbanization came in evidence in the winter season, but that of air-cooling condition was slight in the summer season. On the other hand, the long-term trends of degree days were very small in airport areas except for Kimhae airport. Hence, the gaps of degree days between big cities and rural airport areas are increasing.