• International Journal of Fuzzy Logic and Intelligent Systems
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.263-269
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• 2012

The ability to characterize feature objects from radar readings is often limited by simply looking at their still frame reflectivity, differential reflectivity and differential phase data. In many cases, time-series study of these objects' reflectivity profile is required to properly characterize features objects of interest. This paper introduces a novel technique to automatically track multiple 3D radar structures in C,S-band in real-time using Doppler radar and profile their characteristic reflectivity distribution in time series. The extraction of reflectivity profile from different radar cluster structures is done in three stages: 1. static frame (zone-linkage) clustering, 2. dynamic frame (evolution-linkage) clustering and 3. characterization of clusters through time series profile of reflectivity distribution. The two clustering schemes proposed here are applied on composite multi-layers CAPPI (Constant Altitude Plan Position Indicator) radar data which covers altitude range of 0.25 to 10 km and an area spanning over hundreds of thousands $km^2$. Discrete numerical simulations show the validity of the proposed technique and that fast and accurate profiling of time series reflectivity distribution for deformable 3D radar structures is achievable.

• Atmosphere
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.155-165
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• 2005

The characteristics of six precipitation systems occurred around Cheongju in 2002 are analyzed after the convective/stratiform radar echo classification using radar reflectivity from the Meteorological Research Institute"s X-band Doppler weather radar. The Biggerstaff and Listemaa (2000) algorithm is applied for the classification and reveals a physical characteristics of the convective and stratiform rain diagnosed from the three-dimensional structure of the radar reflectivity. The area satisfying the vertical profile of radar reflectivity is well classified, while the area near the radar site and the topography-shielded area show a mis-classification. The seasonal characteristics of the precipitation system are also analyzed using the contoured frequency by altitude diagrams (CFADs). The heights of maximum reflectivity are 4 km and 5.5 km in spring and summer, respectively, and the vertical gradient of radar reflectivity from 1.5 km to the melting layer in spring is larger than in summer.

• Atmosphere
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.467-481
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• 2017

A correction method of reflectivity in partial beam blockage (PBB) area is suggested, which is based on the combination of digital terrain information and self-consistency principle between polarimetric observation. First, the reflectivity was corrected by adding the radar energy loss estimated from beam blockage simulation using digital elevation model (DEM) and beam propagation geometry in standard atmosphere. The additional energy loss by unexpected obstacles and non-standard beam propagation was estimated by using the coefficient between accumulated reflectivity ($Z_H$) and differences of differential phase shift (${\Phi}_{DP}$) along radial direction. The proposed method was applied to operational S-band dual-polarization radar at Jindo and its performance was compared with those of simulation method and self-consistency method for six rainfall cases. When the accumulated reflectivity and increment of ${\Phi}_{DP}$ along radial direction are too small, the self-consistency method has failed to correct the reflectivity while the combined method has corrected the reflectivity bias reasonably. The correction based on beam simulation showed the underestimation. For evaluation of rainfall estimation, the FBs (FRMSEs) of simulation method and self-consistency principle were -0.32 (0.59) and -0.30 (0.57), respectively. The proposed method showed the lowest FB (-0.24) and FRMSE (0.50). The FB and FMSE were improved by about 18% and by 19% in comparison to those before correction (-0.42 and 0.70). We can conclude that the proposed method can improve the accuracy of rainfall estimation in PBB area.

• Atmosphere
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.347-360
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• 2020

The automatic algorithm optimized for the Korean Peninsula was developed to detect and track the center of typhoon based on a geometrical method using high-resolution retrieved WISSDOM (WInd Syntheses System using DOppler Measurements) wind and reflectivity data. This algorithm analyzes the center of typhoon by detecting the geometric circular structure of the typhoon's eye in radar reflectivity and vorticity 2D field data. For optimizing the algorithm, the main factors of the algorithm were selected and the optimal thresholds were determined through sensitivity experiments for each factor. The center of typhoon was detected for 5 typhoon cases that approached or landed on Korean Peninsula. The performance was verified by comparing and analyzing from the best track of Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The detection rate for vorticity use was 15% higher on average than that for reflectivity use. The detection rate for vorticity use was up to 90% for DIANMU case in 2010. The difference between the detected locations and best tracks of KMA was 0.2° on average when using reflectivity and vorticity. After the optimization, the detection rate was improved overall, especially the detection rate more increased when using reflectivity than using vorticity. And the difference of location was reduced to 0.18° on average, increasing the accuracy.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.607-617
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• 2009

Radar beam blocking which is partially or entirely interrupted by obstacles like a mountain causes underestimation of the rainfall. In this paper, partially blocked radar reflectivity is retrieved using the ARM(Accumulated Reflectivity Map). ARM is made by accumulation of the radar reflectivity and very useful product to analyze the beam blockage. The blockage correcting map could be obtained by assuming the spatially uniform reflectivity field in the ARM. This method is applied to the cases of typhoon and Changma, and we obtain the MFE(Mean Fractional Error) from two radar data, the one is objective radar data which is affected by blockage and the other is comparative radar data which is not affected by blockage. Before blocking correction, MFE is 20-35%. However, after correction, MFE decreases to 7-10%.

• Atmosphere
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.197-211
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• 2019

The observational sensitivity of dual-polarization weather radar was quantitatively analyzed by using two different pulse widths. For this purpose, test radar scan strategy which consisted of consecutive radar scan using long (LP: $2{\mu}s$) and short (SP: $1{\mu}s$) pulses at the same elevation angle was employed. The test scan strategy was conducted at three operational S-band dual-polarization radars (KSN, JNI, and GSN) of Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). First, the minimum detectable reflectivity (MDR) was analyzed as a function of range using large data set of reflectivity ($Z_H$) obtained from JNI and GSN radars. The MDR of LP was as much as 7~22 dB smaller than that of SP. The LP could measure $Z_H$ greater than 0 dBZ within the maximum observational range of 240 km. Secondly, polarimetric observations and the spatial extent of radar echo between two pulses were compared. The cross-polar correlation coefficient (${\rho}_{hv}$) from LP was greater than that from SP at weak reflectivity (0~20 dBZ). The ratio of $Z_H$ (> 0 dBZ) and ${\rho}_{hv}$(> 0.95) bin to total bin calculated from LP were greater than those from SP (maximum 7.1% and 13.2%). Thirdly, the frequency of $Z_H$ (FOR) during three precipitation events was analyzed. The FOR of LP was greater than that of SP, and the difference in FOR between them increased with increasing range. We conclude that the use of LP can enhance the sensitivity of polarimetric observations and is more suitable for detecting weak echoes.

• Atmosphere
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.433-444
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• 2014

Although the Radar-AWS Rainrate (RAR) calculation system operated by Korea Meteorological Administration estimated precipitation using 2-dimensional composite components of single polarization radars, this system has several limitations in estimating the precipitation accurately. To to overcome limitations of the RAR system, the Korea Meteorological Administration developed and operated the RMQ (Radar-based Multi-sensor Quantitative Precipitation Estimation) system, the improved version of NMQ (National Mosaic and Multi-sensor Quantitative Precipitation Estimation) system of NSSL (National Severe Storms Laboratory) for the Korean Peninsula. This study introduced the RMQ system domestically for the first time and verified the precipitation estimation performance of the RMQ system. The RMQ system consists of 4 main parts as the process of handling the single radar data, merging 3D reflectivity, QPE, and displaying result images. The first process (handling of the single radar data) has the pre-process of a radar data (transformation of data format and quality control), the production of a vertical profile of reflectivity and the correction of bright-band, and the conduction of hydrid scan reflectivity. The next process (merger of 3D reflectivity) produces the 3D composite reflectivity field after correcting the quality controlled single radar reflectivity. The QPE process classifies the precipitation types using multi-sensor information and estimates quantitative precipitation using several Z-R relationships which are proper for precipitation types. This process also corrects the precipitation using the AWS position with local gauge correction technique. The last process displays the final results transformed into images in the web-site. This study also estimated the accuracy of the RMQ system with five events in 2012 summer season and compared the results of the RAR (Radar-AWS Rainrate) and RMQ systems. The RMQ system ($2.36mm\;hr^{-1}$ in RMSE on average) is superior to the RAR system ($8.33mm\;hr^{-1}$ in RMSE) and improved by 73.25% in RMSE and 25.56% in correlation coefficient on average. The precipitation composite field images produced by the RMQ system are almost identical to the AWS (Automatic Weather Statioin) images. Therefore, the RMQ system has contributed to improve the accuracy of precipitation estimation using weather radars and operation of the RMQ system in the work field in future enables to cope with the extreme weather conditions actively.

• Atmosphere
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.24-43
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• 2004

This paper describes the detailed characteristics of heavy rainfall events occurred in Chungcheong province on 15 and 16 April and from 6 to 8 August 2002 based on the analysis of raingauge rainfall rate and radar reflectivity from the METRI's X-band Weather Radar located in Cheongju. A synoptic analysis of the case is carried out, first, and then the analysis is devoted to seeing how the radar observes the case and how much information we obtain. The highly resolved radar reflectivity of horizontal and vertical resolutions of 1 km and 500 m, respectively shows a three-dimensional structure of the precipitating system, in a similar sequence with the ground rainfall rate. The radar echo classification algorithm for convective/stratiform cloud is applied. In the convectively-classified area, the radar reflectivity pattern shows a fair agreement with that of the surface rainfall rate. This kind of classification using radar reflectivity is considered to be useful for the precipitation forecasting. Another noteworthy aspect of the case includes the effect of topography on the precipitating system, following the analysis of the surface rainfall rate, topography, and precipitating system. The results from this case study offer a unique opportunity of the usefulness of weather radar for better understanding of structural and variable characteristics of flash flood-producing heavy rainfall events, in particular for their improved forecasting.

• Atmosphere
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.77-87
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• 2014

The radar reflectivity is significantly affected by ground clutter, beam blockage, anomalous propagation (AP), birds, insects, chaff, etc. The quality of radar reflectivity is very important in quantitative precipitation estimation. Therefore, Weather Radar Center (WRC) of Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) employed two quality control algorithms: 1) Open Radar Product Generator (ORPG) and 2) fuzzy quality control algorithm to improve quality of radar reflectivity. In this study, an occurrence of AP echoes and the performance of both quality control algorithms are investigated. Consequently, AP echoes frequently occur during the spring and fall seasons. Moreover, while the ORPG QC algorithm has the merit of removing non-precipitation echoes, such as AP echoes, it also removes weak rain echoes and snow echoes. In contrast, the fuzzy QC algorithm has the advantage of preserving snow echoes and weak rain echoes, but it eliminates the partial area of the contaminated echo, including the AP echoes.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.793-805
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• 2015

Nowadays the amount of data obtained from advanced weather radars is growing to provide higher spatio-temporal resolution. Accordingly radar data compression is important to use limited network bandwidth and storage effectively. In this paper, we proposed a hierarchical compression method for weather radar data having high spatio-temporal resolution. The method is applied to radar reflectivity and evaluated in aspects of accuracy of quantitative rainfall intensity. The technique provides three compression levels from only 1 compressed stream for three radar user groups-signal processor, quality controller, weather analyst. Experimental results show that the method has maximum 13% and minimum 33% of compression rates, and outperforms 25% higher than general compression technique such as gzip.