The National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) is taking aerial photographs on March 7 ~ 12, and April 17 ~ 24 in order to study the long-range air pollutants that cause yellow dust phenomena (hwangsa in Korean) in the dry spring season in Korea.

The aerial photographs are to be taken in the Westcoast of Korea in different heights from 300 meters to 3,000 meters, and they are used to measure distribution and movement of air pollutants. The aircraft is also continuously measuring gaseous matters and suspended particulate matters.

This research is one of the projects of the Joint Research for Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollutants in Northeast Asia, which is being conducted by China, Japan and Korea to control transboundary air pollutants in the region. Yellow dust phenomena became a major air pollution concern in Korea as the frequency and the harmful metallic contents of the yellow dust, such as quartz, aluminum and copper, are increasing. Yellow-dust often causes eye and respiratory illnesses and visibility problems, hinder the operation of precision machines and impair the growth of agricultural products.