• Atmosphere
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.495-508
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• 2016

In order to determine the prediction possibility of heavy rainfall, a variety of analyses was conducted by using three-dimensional data obtained from Korea Local Analysis and Prediction System (KLAPS) re-analysis data. Strong moisture convergence occurring around the time of the heavy rainfall is consistent with the results of previous studies on such continuous production. Heavy rainfall occurred in the cloud system with a thick convective clouds. The moisture convergence, temperature and potential temperature advection showed increase into the heavy rainfall occurrence area. The distribution of integrated liquid water content tended to decrease as rainfall increased and was characterized by accelerated convective instability along with increased buoyant energy. In addition, changes were noted in the various characteristics of instability indices such as K-index (KI), Showalter Stability Index (SSI), and lifted index (LI). The meteorological variables used in the analysis showed clear increases or decreases according to the changes in rainfall amount. These rapid changes as well as the meteorological variables changes are attributed to the surrounding and meteorological conditions. Thus, we verified that heavy rainfall can be predicted according to such increase, decrease, or changes. This study focused on quantitative values and change characteristics of diagnostic variables calculated by using numerical models rather than by focusing on synoptic analysis at the time of the heavy rainfall occurrence, thereby utilizing them as prognostic variables in the study of the predictability of heavy rainfall. These results can contribute to the identification of production and development mechanisms of heavy rainfall and can be used in applied research for prediction of such precipitation. In the analysis of various case studies of heavy rainfall in the future, our study result can be utilized to show the development of the prediction of severe weather.

• Atmosphere
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.321-336
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• 2016

Damages caused by torrential rain occur every year in Korea and summer time convection can cause strong thunderstorms to develop which bring dangerous weather such as torrential rain, gusts, and flash flooding. On 6 August 2013 a sudden torrential rain concentrated over the inland of Southern Korean Peninsula occurred. This was an event characterized as a mesoscale multicellular convection. The purpose of this study is to analyze the conditions of the multicellular convection and the synoptic and mesoscale nature of the system development. To this end, dynamical and thermodynamic analyses of surface and upper-level weather charts, satellite images, soundings, reanalysis data and WRF model simulations are performed. At the beginning stage there was a cool, dry air intrusion in the upper-level of the Korean Peninsula, and a warm humid air flow from the southwest in the lower-level creating atmospheric instability. This produced a single cell cumulonimbus cloud in the vicinity of Baengnyeongdo, and due to baroclinic instability, shear and cyclonic vorticity the cloud further developed into a multicellular convection. The cloud system moved southeast towards Seoul metropolitan area accompanied by lightning, heavy precipitation and strong wind gusts. In addition, atmospheric instability due to daytime insolation caused new convective cells to develop in the upstream part of the Sobaek Mountain which merged with existing multicellular convection creating a larger system. This case was unusual because the system was affected little by the upper-level jet stream which is typical in Korea. The development and propagation of the multicellular convection showed strong mesoscale characteristics and was not governed by large synoptic-scale dynamics. In particular, the system moved southeast crossing the Peninsula diagonally from northwest to southeast and did not follow the upper-level westerly pattern. The analysis result shows that the movement of the system can be determined by the vertical wind shear.

• Atmosphere
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.53-67
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• 2018

This study examined the lake effect of the Yellow Sea which was induced by the Siberian High pressure system moving over the open waters. The development mechanism of the convective cells over the ocean was studied in detail using the Weather Research and Forecasting model. Numerical experiments consist of the control experiment (CTL) and an experiment changing the yellow sea to dry land (EXP). The CTL simulation result showed distinct high area of relative vorticity, convergence and low-level atmospheric instability than that of the EXP. The result indicates that large surface vorticity and convergence induced vertical motion and low level instability over the ocean when the arctic Siberian air mass moved south over the Yellow Sea. The sensible heat flux at the sea surface gradually decreased while latent heat flux gradually increased. At the beginning stage of air mass modification, sensible heat was the main energy source for convective cell generation. However, in the later stage, latent heat became the main energy source for the development of convective cells. In conclusion, the mechanism of the west coast heavy snowfall caused by modification of the Siberian air mass over the Yellow Sea can be explained by air-sea interaction instability in the following order: (a) cyclonic vorticity caused by diabatic heating induce Ekman pumping and convergence at the surface, (b) sensible heat at the sea surface produce convection, and (c) this leads to latent heat release, and the development of convective cells. The overall process is a manifestation of air-sea interaction and enhancement of convection from positive feedback mechanism.

• Atmosphere
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.153-176
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• 2024

At 0843 UTC 30 May 2021, a commercial aircraft encountered severe turbulence at z = 11.5 km associated with the rapid development of Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) in the Gyeonggi Bay of Korea. To investigate the generation mechanisms of Near-Cloud Turbulence (NCT) near the MCS, Weather Research and Forecasting model was used to reproduce key features at multiple-scales with four nested domains (the finest ∆x = 0.2 km) and 112 hybrid vertical layers. Simulated subgrid-scale turbulent kinetic energy (SGS TKE) was located in three different regions of the MCS. First, the simulated NCT with non-zero SGS TKE at z = 11.5 km at 0835 UTC was collocated with the reported NCT. Cloud-induced flow deformation and entrainment process on the downstream of the overshooting top triggered convective instability and subsequent SGS TKE. Second, at z = 16.5 km at 0820 UTC, the localized SGS TKE was found 4 km above the overshooting cloud top. It was attributed to breaking down of vertically propagating convectively-induced gravity wave at background critical level. Lastly, SGS TKE was simulated at z = 11.5 km at 0930 UTC during the dissipating stage of MCS. Upper-level anticyclonic outflow of MCS intensified the environmental westerlies, developing strong vertical wind shear on the northeastern quadrant of the dissipating MCS. Three different generation mechanisms suggest the avoidance guidance for the possible NCT events near the entire period of the MCS in the heavy air traffic area around Incheon International Airport in Korea.

• Atmosphere
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.115-123
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• 2007

The present study uses the GOES IR brightness temperature to examine the temporal and spatial variability of cloud activity over the region $25^{\circ}N-45^{\circ}N$, $105^{\circ}E-135^{\circ}E$ and analyzes the coherence of eastern Asian summer season rainfall in Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model. Time-longitude diagram of the time period from June to July 2005 shows a signal of eastward propagation in the WRF model and convective index derived from GOES IR data. The rain streaks in time-latitude diagram reveal coherence during the experiment period. Diurnal and synoptic scales are evident in the power spectrum of the time series of convective index and WRF rainfall. The diurnal cycle of early morning rainfall in the WRF model agrees with GOES IR data in the Korean Peninsula, but the afternoon convection observed by satellite observation in China is not consistent with the WRF rainfall which is represented at the dawn. Although there are errors in strength and timing of convection, the model predicts a coherent tendency of rainfall occurrence during summer season.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2006.03a
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• pp.117-120
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• 2006

Heavy rainfall events are occurred exceedingly various forms by a complex interaction between synoptic, dynamic and atmospheric stability. As the results, quantitative precipitation forecast is extraordinary difficult because it happens locally in a short time and has a strong spatial and temporal variations. GOES-9 imagery data provides continuous observations of the clouds in time and space at the right resolution. In this study, an power-law type algorithm(KAE: Korea auto estimator) for estimating rainfall based on the rainfall type was developed using geostationary meteorological satellite data. GOES-9 imagery and automatic weather station(AWS) measurements data were used for the classification of rainfall types and the development of estimation algorithm. Subjective and objective classification of rainfall types using GOES-9 imagery data and AWS measurements data showed that most of heavy rainfalls are occurred by the convective and mired type. Statistical analysis between AWS rainfall and GOES-IR data according to the rainfall types showed that estimation of rainfall amount using satellite data could be possible only for the convective and mixed type rainfall. The quality of KAE in estimating the rainfall amount and rainfall area is similar or slightly superior to the National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service's auto-estimator(NESDIS AE), especially for the multi cell convective and mixed type heavy rainfalls. Also the high estimated level is denoted on the mature stage as well as decaying stages of rainfall system.

• Atmosphere
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.173-188
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• 2014

The KMA has cooperated with the Oklahoma University in USA to develop a Polarimetric Radar Data (PRD) simulator to improve the microphysical processes in Korea Local Analysis and Prediction System (KLAPS), which is critical for the utilization of PRD into Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) field. The simulator is like a tool to convert NWP data into PRD, so it enables us to compare NWP data with PRD directly. The simulator can simulate polarimetric radar variables such as reflectivity (Z), differential reflectivity ($Z_{DR}$), specific differential phase ($K_{DP}$), and cross-correlation coefficient (${\rho}_{hv}$) with input of the Drop Size Distribution (DSD) and scattering calculation of the hydrometeors. However, the simulator is being developed based on the foreign observation data, therefore the PRD simulator development reflecting rainfall characteristics of Korea is needed. This study analyzed a potential application of the 2-Dimension Video Disdrometer (2DVD) data by calculating the raindrop axis ratio according to the rain-types to reflect Korea's rainfall characteristics into scattering module in the simulator. The 2DVD instrument measures the precipitation DSD including the fall velocity and the shape of individual raindrops. We calculated raindrop axis ratio for stratiform, convective and mixed rainfall cases after checking the accuracy of 2DVD data, which usually represent the scattering characteristics of precipitation. The raindrop axis ratio obtained from 2DVD data are compared with those from foreign database in the simulator. The calculated the dual-polarimetric radar variables from the simulator using the obtained raindrop axis ratio are also compared with in situ dual-polarimetric observation data at Bislsan (BSL). 2DVD observation data show high accuracies in the range of 0.7~4.8% compared with in situ rain gauge data which represents 2DVD data are sufficient for the use to simulator. There are small differences of axis ratio in the diameter below 1~2 mm and above 4~5 mm, which are more obvious for bigger raindrops especially for a strong convective rainfall case. These differences of raindrop axis ratio between domestic and foreign rainfall data base suggest that the potential use of disdrometer observation can develop of a PRD simulated suitable to the Korea precipitation system.

• Atmosphere
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.67-83
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• 2015

Predicting the location and intensity of precipitation still remains a main issue in numerical weather prediction (NWP). Resolution is a very important component of precipitation forecasts in NWP. Compared with a lower resolution model, a higher resolution model can predict small scale (i.e., storm scale) precipitation and depict convection structures more precisely. In addition, an ensemble technique can be used to improve the precipitation forecast because it can estimate uncertainties associated with forecasts. Therefore, NWP using both a higher resolution model and ensemble technique is expected to represent inherent uncertainties of convective scale motion better and lead to improved forecasts. In this study, the limited area ensemble prediction system for the convective-scale (i.e., high resolution) operational Unified Model (UM) in Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) was developed and evaluated for the ensemble forecasts during August 2012. The model domain covers the limited area over the Korean Peninsula. The high resolution limited area ensemble prediction system developed showed good skill in predicting precipitation, wind, and temperature at the surface as well as meteorological variables at 500 and 850 hPa. To investigate which combination of horizontal resolution and ensemble member is most skillful, the system was run with three different horizontal resolutions (1.5, 2, and 3 km) and ensemble members (8, 12, and 16), and the forecasts from the experiments were evaluated. To assess the quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF) skill of the system, the precipitation forecasts for two heavy rainfall cases during the study period were analyzed using the Fractions Skill Score (FSS) and Probability Matching (PM) method. The PM method was effective in representing the intensity of precipitation and the FSS was effective in verifying the precipitation forecast for the high resolution limited area ensemble prediction system in KMA.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.36 no.5_1
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• pp.793-806
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• 2020

In this study,for YSU (Yonsei University), MYJ(Mellor-Yamada-Janjic), ACM2 (Asymmetric Convective Model), and BouLac (Bougeault-Lacarrere) PBL schemes, numerical experiments were performed for the case period (June 26-30, 2014). The PBLH calculated by using the backscatter signal produced by the mobile vehicle-mounted lidar system (LIVE) and the PBLH calculated by the prediction of each PBL schemes of WRF were compared and analyzed. In general, the experiments using the non-local schemes showed a higher correlation than the local schemes for lidar observation. The standard deviation of the PBLH difference for daylight hours was small in the order of YSU (≈0.39 km), BouLac (≈0.45 km), ACM2 (≈0.47 km), MYJ (≈0.53 km) PBL schemes. In the RMSE comparison for the case period, the YSU PBL scheme was found to have the highest precision. The meteorological lider mounted on the vehicle is expected to provide guidance for the analysis of the planetary boundary layer in a numerical model under various weather conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2022.05a
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• pp.147-147
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• 2022

In January 2021 heavy flood affected South Kalimantan with causing many casualties. The heavy rainfall is predicted to be generated due to the ENSO (El Nino-Southern Oscillation). The weak La-Nina mode appeared to generate more convective cloud above the warmed ocean and result in extreme rainfall with high anomaly compared to past historical rainfall event. Subsequently, the antecedent soil moisture distribution showed to have an important role in generating the flood response. Saturated flow and infiltration excess mainly contributed to the runoff generation due to the high moisture capacity. The hydro-meteorological processes in this event were deeply analyzed using the coupled atmospheric model of Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) and the hydrological model extension (WRF-Hydro). The sensitivity analysis of the flood response to the SST anomaly and the soil moisture capacity also compared. Result showed that although SST and soil moisture are the main contributors, soil moisture have more significant contribution to the runoff generation despite of anomaly rainfall occurred. Model performance was validated using the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) and Soil Moisture Operational Products System (SMOPS) and performed reasonably well. The model was able to capture the hydro-meteorological process of atmosphere and hydrological feedbacks in the extreme weather event.