• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2005.05b
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• pp.9-18
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• 2005

In order to systematically and visually understand well-known but qualitative and rotatively complicated relationships between synoptic fields in the BAIU season and heavy rainfall events in Japan, these synoptic fields were classified using the Self-Organizing Map (SOM) algorithm. This algorithm can convert complex nonlinear features into simple two-dimensional relationships, and was followed by the application of the clustering techniques of the U-matrix and the K-means. It was assumed that the meteorological field patterns be simply expressed by the spatial distribution of wind components at the 850 hPa level and Precipitable Water (PW) in the southwestern area including Kyushu in Japan. Consequently, the synoptic fields could be divided into eight kinds of patterns (clusters). One of the clusters has the notable spatial feature represented by high PW accompanied by strong wind components known as Low-Level Jet (LLJ). The features of this cluster indicate a typical meteorological field pattern that frequently causes disastrous heavy rainfall in Kyushu in the rainy season. From these results, the SOM technique may be an effective tool for the classification of complicated non-linear synoptic fields.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.999-1012
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• 2022

To investigate the reason for the spatial difference in PM_2.5 (Particulate Matter, < 2.5 ㎛) concentration despite a similar synoptic pattern, a synoptic analysis was performed. The data used for this study were the daily average PM_2.5 concentration and meteorological data observed from 2016 to 2020 in Busan and Seoul metropolitan areas. Synoptic pressure patterns associated with high PM_2.5 concentration episodes (greater than 35 ㎍/m³) were analyzed using K-means cluster analysis, based on the 900 hPa geopotential height of NCEP (National Centers for Environmental Prediction) FNL (Final analysis) data. The analysis identified three sub-groups related to high concentrations occurring only in Busan and Seoul metropolitan areas. Although the synoptic patterns of high PM_2.5 concentration episodes that occur independently in Busan and Seoul metropolitan areas were similar, there was a difference in the intensity of pressure gradient and its direction, which tends to be an important factor determining the movement time of pollutants. The spatial difference in PM_2.5 concentration in the Korean Peninsula is due to the difference and direction of the atmospheric pressure gradient that develops from southwest to northeast direction.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.1525-1540
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• 2015

In order to clarify the contribution rate of PM concentration due to regional emission distribution, Brute force analysis were carried out using numerical estimated PM data from WRF-CMAQ. The emission from Kyeongki region including Seoul metropolitan is the largest contribution of PM concentration than that from other regions except for emission of trans-country and source itself. Contribution rate of self emission is also the largest at Kyeongki region and its rate reach on over 95 %. And the rate at Gangwon region also higher than any region due to synoptic wind pattern. Due to synoptic wind direction at high PM episode, pollutants at downwind area along from west to east and from north to south tends to mix intensively and its composition is also complicated. Although the uncertainty of initial concentration of PM, the contribution of regional PM concentration tend to depend on the meteorological condition including intensity of synoptic and mesoscale wind and PM emission pattern over upwind region.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.463-477
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• 2015

The recent unusual climate and extreme weather events have frequently given unexpected disaster and damages, facing difficulties in the management of water resources. In particular, climate change could result in intensified typhoons, and this would be the worst case scenario that can happen. The primary objective of this study is to identify the patterns of typhoon-induced precipitation and the associated synoptic pattern. This study focused on analyzing precipitation patterns over the South Korea using historic records as opposed to a specified season or duration, and further investigates the potential connection with heavy rainfall to synoptic patterns. In this study, we used the best track data provided by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center of Japan for 40 years from 1973 to 2012. The patterns of the typhoon-induced precipitation were categorized into four groups according to a given typhoon track information, and then the associated synoptic climatology patterns were further investigated. The results demonstrate that the typhoon-induced precipitation patterns could be grouped and potentially simulated according to the identified synoptic patterns. Our future work will focus on developing a short-term forecasting model of typhoon-induced precipitation considering the identified climate patterns as inputs.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.209-221
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• 2018

The characteristics of heat wave events in Seoul are analyzed using weather station data from Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) ERA-Interim reanalysis data from 1979 to 2016. Heat waves are defined as events in the upper 10th percentile of the daily maximum temperatures. The associated synoptic weather patterns are then classified into six clusters through Self-Organizing Map (SOM) analysis for sea-level pressure anomalies in East Asia. Cluster 1 shows an anti-cyclonic circulation and weak troughs in southeast and west of Korea, respectively. This synoptic pattern leads to southeasterly winds that advect warm and moist air to the Korean Peninsula. Both clusters 2 and 3 are associated with southerly winds formed by an anti-cyclonic circulation over the east of Korea and cyclonic circulation over the west of Korea. Cluster 4 shows a stagnant weather pattern with weak winds and strong insolation. Clusters 5 and 6 are associated with F?hn wind resulting from an anti-cyclonic circulation in the north of the Korean Peninsula. In terms of long-term variations, event frequencies of clusters 4 and 5 show increasing and decreasing trends, respectively. However, other clusters do not show any long-term trends, indicating that the mechanisms that drive heat wave events in Seoul have remained constant over the last four decades.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.443-451
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• 2013

Spring rainfall events were comprehensively analyzed based on the distribution of precipitation amount and the related synoptic weather between 2008~2012. Forty-eight cases are selected among the rain events of the entire country, and each distribution of the 24-hour accumulated precipitation amount is classified into three types: evenly distributed rain(Type 1), more rain in the southern area and south coast region (Type 2), and more rain in the central region (Type 3), respectively. Type 1 constitutes the largest part(35 cases, 72.9%) with mean precipitation amount of 19.4 mm, and the 17 cases of Type 1 are observed in March. Although Type B and C constitutes small parts (11 cases, 22.9% and 2 cases, 4.2%), respectively. The precipitation amount of these types is greater than 34.5 mm and occurred usually in April. The main synoptic weather patterns affecting precipitation distribution are classified into five patterns according to the pathway of low pressures. The most influential pattern is type 4, and this usually occurs in March, April, and May (Low pressures from the north and the ones from the west and south consecutively affect South Korea, 37.5%). The pattern 3(Low pressures from the south affect South Korea, 25%) happens mostly in April, and the average precipitation is usually greater than 30 mm. This value is relatively higher than the values in any other patterns.

• Atmosphere
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.383-392
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• 2018

This study investigates synoptic characteristics of cold surges over South Korea during winter season (December-February). A total of 63 cold events are selected by quantile regression analysis using daily mean temperature observations from 11 KMA stations for 38 years (1979/80-2016/17). Large-scale pressure pattern during the cold surges is well characterized by high over Siberia and low over Aleutian regions, which elucidates cold advection over the Korean peninsula. However, the large-scale pattern cannot successfully explain the observed sudden decrease of temperature during the cold surges. Composite analyses reveal that a synoptic-scale cyclone developing over the northern Japan is a key feature that significantly contribute to the enhancement of cold advection by increasing pressure gradient over the Korean peninsula. Enhanced sensible and latent heat fluxes are observed over the southern ocean of Korea and Japan during the cold surges due to temperature and humidity differences between the near surface and the lower atmosphere over the ocean. The evaporated water vapor transported toward the center of the surface cyclone and condenses in the lower-to-middle troposphere. The released energy likely promotes the development of the surface cyclone by inducing positive PV near the surface of the heating region.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.14-28
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• 2007

This study presented the selection of ozone ($O_3$) potential factors and designed and assessed its potential prediction model using multiple-linear regression equations in Ulsan area during the springtime from April to June, $2000{\sim}2004$. $O_3$ potential factors were selected by analyzing the relationship between meterological parameters and surface $O_3$ concentrations. In addition, cluster analysis (e.g., average linkage and K-means clustering techniques) was performed to identify three major synoptic patterns (e.g., $P1{\sim}P3$) for an $O_3$ potential prediction model. P1 is characterized by a presence of a low-pressure system over northeastern Korea, the Ulsan was influenced by the northwesterly synoptic flow leading to a retarded sea breeze development. P2 is characterized by a weakening high-pressure system over Korea, and P3 is clearly associated with a migratory anticyclone. The stepwise linear regression was performed to develop models for prediction of the highest 1-h $O_3$ occurring in the Ulsan. The results of the models were rather satisfactory, and the high $O_3$ simulation accuracy for $P1{\sim}P3$ synoptic patterns was found to be 79, 85, and 95%, respectively ($2000{\sim}2004$). The $O_3$ potential prediction model for $P1{\sim}P3$ using the predicted meteorological data in 2005 showed good high $O_3$ prediction performance with 78, 75, and 70%, respectively. Therefore the regression models can be a useful tool for forecasting of local $O_3$ concentration.

• Environmental Sciences Bulletin of The Korean Environmental Sciences Society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2000

In order to understand the wintertime intermittent characteristics of the trans-boundary air pollutant transport observed in East Asia, a numerical simulation of the long-range transport of pollutants was applied using an atmospheric transport model(STEM-II). The numerical simulation was carried out for the entire month of January 1997 and specific atmospheric aerosol (including sulfate, nitrate, and other ion compounds0 observation data were compared from four observation sites(Cheju Island, Kanghwa Island, Dazaifu, and Fukue Island). The observation data revealed that concentration peaks were intermittently observed at 3 to 4-day intervals plus the four observation sites exhibited a very similar spatial variation. The horizontal and spatial scale of the heavily polluted air masses was analyzed based on numerical results. The mechanism of the intermittent transport of air pollutants was clearly explained by a comparison of the observed data with the numerical output. It was found that the wind pattern variations associated with the synoptic scale pressure system changes play an extremely important role in the transport of pollutants in this region.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.357-365
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• 2005

The typical patterns of surface $O_3$ pollution and their dependence on meteorology were studied in the Greater Seoul Area (GSA) during warm season (April-September) from 1998 to 2002. In order to classify the $O_3$ pollution patterns, two-stage (average linkage then k-means) clustering technique was employed based on daily maximum $O_3$ concentrations obtained from 53 monitoring sites during high $O_3$ events (118 days). The clustering technique identified four statistically distinct $O_3$ pollution patterns representing the different horizontal distributions and levels of $O_3$ in GSA. The prevailed pattern (93 days, $49.5\%$) distinctly showed the gradient of $49.5\%$ concentrations going from west to east in GSA. Very high $49.5\%$ concentrations throughout GSA (24 days, $12.8\%$) were also found as a significant pattern of severe $O_3$ pollution. In order to understand the characteristics of $O_3$ pollution patterns, the relationship between $O_3$ pollution patterns and meteorological conditions were analyzed using both synoptic charts and surface/upper air data. Each pattern was closely associated with surface wind interacted with synoptic background flow allowing to transport and accumulate $O_3$ and its precursor. In particular, the timing and inland penetration of sea-breeze were apparently found to play very important role in determining $O_3$ distributions.