• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.79-86
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• 2011

Cold-air drainage and pooling occur in most mountain valleys at night. Local climates with cold-air pooling could affect phenology and distribution of crop plants. A high resolution infrared imaging radiometer was used to visualize the cold-air drainage and thermal belt formation over a small mountainous watershed (ca. $10{\times}5{\times}1$ km for the maximum length${\times}$width${\times}$depth). Thermal images on $640{\times}480$ pixels were scanned across the Akyang valley (south of Mt. Jiri National Park) by the radiometer installed at a local peak ('Hyongjebong', 1,117 m a.s.l.) at dawn of 17 May 2011, when the synoptic condition was favorable for the surface cooling and cold-air drainage. Major findings are: (1) Cold-air drainage and accumulation was clearly identified by the lowest brightness temperature mainly at the valley bottom. (2) So-called 'thermal belt' with higher brightness temperature was found partway up the valley sidewalls and showed up to $5^{\circ}C$ departure from the valley bottom temperature. (3) Digital thermography showed feasibility for validation of the high definition geospatial temperature models currently in use for the plot-specific agrometeorological service.