• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.815-824
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• 2022

It is necessary to understand the amount of snowfall and area of snow cover of Mt. Halla to ensure the safety of mountaineers and to protect the ecosystem of Mt. Halla against climate change. However, there are not enough related studies and observation posts for monitoring snow load. Therefore, to supplement the insufficient data, this study proposes an analysis of snow load and snow cover using normalized-difference snow index. Using the images obtained from the Sentinel2 satellite, the normalized-difference snow index image of Mt. Halla could be acquired. This was examined together with the meteorological data obtained from the existing observatory to analyze the change in snow cover for the years 2020 and 2021. The normalized-difference snow index images showed a smaller snow pixel number in 2021 than that in 2020. This study concluded that 2021 may have been warmer than 2020. In the future, it will be necessary to continuously monitor the amount of snow and the snow-covered area of Mt. Halla using the normalized-difference snow index image analysis method.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.39 no.10 s.171
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• pp.845-854
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• 2006

Establishment of snowmelt factors is necessary to simulate stream flow using snowmelt models during snowmelt periods. The few observed data related snowmelt was the major cause of difficulty in extracting snowmelt factors such as snow cover area, snow depth and depletion curve. The objective of this study was to extract snowmelt factors using RS, GIS technique and meteorological data. Snow cover maps were derived from NOAA/AVHRR images for the winter seasons from 1997 to 2003. Distributed snow depth was mapped by overlapping between snow cover maps and interpolated snowfall maps from 69 meteorological observation station. Depletion curves of snowmelt area were described from the linear regression equations of each year between the average temperature and snow cover area in Soyanggang-dam and chungju-dam watershed.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.409-420
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• 2012

Since the Industrial Revolution, CO2 levels have been increasing with climate change. In this study, Analyze time-series changes in snow cover quantitatively and predict the vanishing point of snow cover statistically using remote sensing. The study area is Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. 23 image data of Landsat-5 TM and Landsat-7 ETM+, spanning the 27 years from June 1984 to July 2011, were acquired. For this study, first, atmospheric correction was performed on each image using the COST atmospheric correction model. Second, the snow cover area was extracted using the NDSI (Normalized Difference Snow Index) algorithm. Third, the minimum height of snow cover was determined using SRTM DEM. Finally, the vanishing point of snow cover was predicted using the trend line of a linear function. Analysis was divided using a total of 23 images and 17 images during the dry season. Results show that snow cover area decreased by approximately $6.47km^2$ from $9.01km^2$ to $2.54km^2$, equivalent to a 73% reduction. The minimum height of snow cover increased by approximately 290 m, from 4,603 m to 4,893 m. Using the trend line result shows that the snow cover area decreased by approximately $0.342km^2$ in the dry season and $0.421km^2$ overall each year. In contrast, the annual increase in the minimum height of snow cover was approximately 9.848 m in the dry season and 11.251 m overall. Based on this analysis of vanishing point, there will be no snow cover 2020 at 95% confidence interval. This study can be used to monitor global climate change by providing the change in snow cover area and reference data when studying this area or similar areas in future research.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.401-410
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• 2017

Estimation of snow depth using optical image is conducted by using correlation with Snow Cover Fraction (SCF). Various algorithms have been proposed for the estimation of snow cover fraction based on Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI). In this study we tested linear, quadratic, and exponential equations for the generation of snow cover fraction maps using data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua satellite in order to evaluate their applicability to the complex terrain of South Korea and to search for improvements to the estimation of snow depth on this landscape. The results were validated by comparison with in-situ snowfall data from weather stations, with Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) calculated as 3.43, 2.37, and 3.99 cm for the linear, quadratic, and exponential approaches, respectively. Although quadratic results showed the best RMSE, this was due to the limitations of the data used in the study; there are few number of in-situ data recorded on the station at the time of image acquisition and even the data is mostly recorded on low snowfall. So, we conclude that linear-based algorithms are better suited for use in South Korea. However, in the case of using the linear equation, the SCF with a negative value can be calculated, so it should be corrected. Since the coefficients of the equation are not optimized for this area, further regression analysis is needed. In addition, if more variables such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), land cover, etc. are considered, it could be possible that estimation of national-scale snow depth with higher accuracy.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.33-40
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• 2007

This study is to grasp and analyse the temporal and spatial distribution of record-breaking heavy snowfall rarely occurred in the middle and southwest region of South Korea during March of 2004 and December of 2005 respectively. Snow cover area was extracted using the channels 1, 3 and 4 of NOAA AVHRR images and the snow depth distribution was spatially interpolated using snowfall data of meteorological stations. Using administration boundary and Digital Elevation Model from 1:5,000 NGIS digital map, the snowfall impact was assessed spatially and compared with the reports at that time. The damaged area by heavy snowfall over 15 cm snow depth could be identified successfully within the spatial extent of snowfall area extracted by NOAA AVHRR image.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2015

This study is to analyze the heavy snowfall vulnerable area of snow load design criteria for greenhouse, cattle shed and building using ground measured snow depth data and Terra MODIS snow cover area(SCA). To analyze the heavy snowfall vulnerable area, Terra MODIS satellite images for 12 years(2001-2012) were used to obtain the characteristics of snow depth and snow cover areas respectively. By comparing the snow load design criteria for greenhouse(cm), cattle shed($kg/m^2$), and building structure($kN/m^2$) with the snow depth distribution results by Terra MODIS satellite images, the facilities located in Jeolla-do, Chungcheong-do, and Gangwon-do areas were more vulnerable to exceed the current design criteria.

• Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.369-378
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• 2006

This Study focuses on the binary forecast of occurrence of heavy snow in Honam area based on the MOS(model output statistic) method. For our study daily amount of snow cover at 17 stations during the cold season (November to March) in 2001 to 2005 and Corresponding 45 RDAPS outputs are used. Logistic regression model and neural networks are applied to predict the probability of occurrence of Heavy snow. Based on the distribution of estimated probabilities, optimal thresholds are determined via true shill score. According to the results of comparison the logistic regression model is recommended.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• v.1
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• pp.110-113
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• 2006

This study is to grasp and analyse the temporal and spatial distribution of record-breaking heavy snowfall rarely occurred in the middle and southwest region of South Korea during March of 2004 and December of 2005 respectively. Snow cover area was extracted using the channels 1, 3 and 4 of NOAA AVHRR images and the snow depth distribution was spatially interpolated using snowfall data of meteorological stations. Using administration boundary and Digital Elevation Model from 1:5,000 NGIS digital map, the snowfall impact was assessed spatially and compared with the reports at that time.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.176-187
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• 2015

In this study, we hypothesized that the size of wintering crane population would change due to the climate factors. We assumed that wintering population size would differ by climate values in January, which is the coldest period in year. Especially, White-naped cranes were able to choose wintering site between Cheorwon and other alternative place where snow coverage had low influence, differing from Red crowned cranes. For this reason, we predicted the population size of White-naped cranes would fluctuate according to the extent of snow coverage in Cheorwon. Therefore we used snow coverage data based on MODIS and climate data from KMA (Korea Meteorological Administration) that are generally used. We analyzed the crane's population size in Cheorwon in January from 2002 to 2014. The temperature in the Cheorwon increased from 2002 to wintering period in 2007~ 2008 and went down, showing the lowest temperature in 2011~ 2012. With this phenomenon, warmth index showed the similar pattern with temperature. Amount of newly accumulated snow (the amount of snow that fallen from 0:01 am to 11:29 pm in a day) was low after 2002, but rapidly increased in 2010~ 2011 and 2011~ 2012. The area of snow coverage rapidly declined from 2002 to 2005~ 2006 but suddenly expanded in wintering period in 2009~ 2010 and 2010~ 2011. Wintering population size of the White-naped cranes decreased as snow coverage area increased in January and the highest correlation was found between them, compared to the other climatic factors. However, the number of individuals of Red crowned cranes had little relationship with general climate factors including snow cover range. Therefore it seems that population size of the Red crowned crane varied by factors related with habitat selection such as secure roosting site and area of foraging place, not by climatic factors. In multiple regression analysis, wintering population of White-naped cranes showed significant relationship with logarithmic value of snow cover range and its period. Therefore, it suggests that the population size of the White-naped crane was affected by snow cover range n wintering period and this was because it was hard for them to find out rice grains which are their main food items, buried in snow cover. The population size variation in White-naped cranes was caused by some individuals which left Cheorwon for Izumi where snow cover had little influence on them. The wintering population in Izumi and Cheorwon had negative correlation, implying they were mutually related.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.287-299
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• 2017

The Southern Volcanic Zone (SVZ) of Chile consists of many volcanoes, including the Mt.Villarrica and Mt.Llaima, and the two volcanoes are covered with snow at the top of Mountain. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between the ice caps and the volcanic activity of the two volcanoes for 25 years by using the satellite image data are available in a time series. A total of 60 Landsat-5 TM and Landsat-7 ETM + data were used for the study from September 1986 to February 2011. Using NDSI (Normalized Difference Snow Index) algorithm and SRTM DEM, snow cover and snowline were extracted. Finally, the snow cover area, lower-snowline, and upper-snowline, which are quantitative indicators of snow cover change, were directly or indirectly affected by volcanic activity, were extracted from the satellite images. The results show that the volcanic activity of Villarrica volcano is more than 55% when the snow cover is less than 20 and the lower-snowline is 1,880 m in Llaima volcano. In addition, when the upper-snowline of the two volcanoes is below -170m, it can be confirmed that the volcano is differentiated with a probability of about 90%. Therefore, the changes in volcanic snowfall are closely correlated with volcanic activity, and it is possible to indirectly deduce volcanic activity by monitoring the snow.