In Korea, Rain Nearly Every Day For A Month - After Record Snowfall, Blazing Midsummer

[hatrack]

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Weeks of downpours, sizzling summer heat and record snowfall last winter are all associated with the phenomenon and it is the warmer than usual Pacific Ocean that could be responsible. The whole country has been soaked with heavy rain for nearly a month and as related damage is reported every day, umbrellas have become a “must-have item.”

“The rain we are experiencing now is obviously not typical,” said Kim Seung-bae, a spokesman for the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), Sunday. Kim admitted that the downpours have become more unpredictable, becoming like tropical squalls that hit smaller areas suddenly. The rain is finally expected to let up this week. “Sunny weather should dominate throughout the week. But I’m not 100 percent sure,” Kim said, explaining the too-capricious-to-forecast climate.

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On top of unusual weather, the southern part of the country is becoming a habitat for plants and species that are generally seen in countries with tropical climates. Climate experts warned these changes are poised to challenge the country’s ecosystem, making the environment more friendly to such species. A Bulwer’s Petrel, a bird species whose habitat is in tropical and African countries, was spotted on Jeju Island last month. Catching tropical fish in waters off Jeju and southern coastal areas has also come as no surprise, they said.

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ttp://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/09/113_72958.html