Twisted Clouds Return Over Jeju Sky... What Is the 'Karman Vortex Street' Captured by NASA?

Atmospheric vortices shaped by island and mountain terrain with strong winds
Large-scale sediment dispersion driven by seasonal current changes
Jeju coastline sees increased response amid influx of seaweed

A unique weather phenomenon in which clouds rotate like twisted bread and line up in a long row has been observed once again over the skies of Jeju. After being captured by a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) satellite, it has now also been detected by a Korea Meteorological Administration satellite, drawing renewed attention.

The Jeju Karman vortex phenomenon released on the 24th (local time) by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

On the 24th (local time), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) released satellite images showing bands of clouds forming over the skies near Jeju Island, rotating alternately to the left and right. This phenomenon is called a Karman vortex street, which occurs when wind passes an obstacle such as an island or a mountain and creates alternating vortices. It is also commonly referred to as a Karman vortex.

A Karman vortex street occurs when wind maintains a steady speed and direction as it passes an obstacle. Vortices appear alternately in a counterclockwise direction on the right side and in a clockwise direction on the left side, forming a characteristic chain-like pattern. This phenomenon is more likely to form when warm air accumulates in the lower atmosphere and relatively thin clouds, such as weak stratocumulus or cumulus clouds, are widely spread in the upper layers. When a high mountain or an island is located above the inversion layer, the airflow is disturbed and distinct vortex clouds are created.

Jeju Island, home to Hallasan, which reaches 1,950 meters above sea level, is particularly known as a region where Karman vortices are frequently observed. In fact, the phenomenon formed in the southern sky over Jeju on the morning of November 14 last year, and a similar appearance was also observed on February 18. Due to the nature of its island topography in the middle of the sea, the southern waters off Jeju are an area where changes in airflow are clearly manifested.

Jeju Island, home to Hallasan, which reaches 1,950 meters above sea level, is known as a region where Karman vortices are frequently observed. In fact, the phenomenon formed in the southern sky over Jeju on the morning of the 14th, and a similar appearance was observed on February 18. Korea Meteorological Administration

Online users who saw the images reacted in various ways, commenting, "It's amazing," "It feels like the shape of the wind is visible to the eye," "It looks as if Hallasan is protecting the Korean Peninsula," and "It seems like the majesty of Seolmundae Halmang." An official from the Korea Meteorological Administration explained, "A Karman vortex street is not a dangerous weather phenomenon," adding, "It is an unusual airflow variation caused by the topographical influence of Jeju Island, which is located in the middle of the sea."

Meanwhile, the latest satellite images also captured a large-scale spread of sediments originating from the coast of Jiangsu Province in China and dispersing into the Yellow Sea. It is analyzed that water mixed with brown sediments has spread extensively due to seasonal changes in winter ocean currents and vertical mixing. Recently in Jeju, changes in the marine environment have continued, with large amounts of Sargassum horneri drifting in from the southern coast of China and piling up along the shoreline. In response, Jeju Province, which usually operates its emergency response task force from March, began running it early this year in January. As this natural spectacle coincides with simultaneous observations of marine and meteorological changes, interest is growing in the environmental shifts occurring in the waters around Jeju.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.