• Atmosphere
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.687-696
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• 2016

The western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) in boreal summer has interannual and interdecadal variability, which affects East Asian summer monsoon variability. In particular, it is well known that the intensity of WNPSH is reversely related to that of summer monsoon in North East Asia in association with Pacific Japan (PJ)-like pattern. Many coupled climate models weakly simulate this large-scale teleconnection pattern and also exhibit the diverse variability of WNPSH. This study discusses the inter-model differences of WNPSH simulated by different climate models, which participate in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5). In comparing with reanalysis observation, the 29 CMIP5 models could be assorted into two difference groups in terms of interannual variability of WNPSH. This study also discusses the dynamical or thermodynamics factors for the differences of two groups of the CMIP5 climate models. As results, the regressed precipitation in well-simulating group onto the Nino3.4 index ($5^{\circ}N-5^{\circ}S$, $170^{\circ}W-120^{\circ}W$) is stronger than that in poorly-simulating group. We suggest that this difference of two groups of the CMIP5 climate models would have an effect on simulating the interannual variability of WNPSH.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.345-356
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• 2017

It is important to understand the variability of tropospheric ozone since it is both a major pollutant affecting human health and a greenhouse gas influencing global climate. We analyze the characteristics of East Asia tropospheric ozone simulated in a chemistry-climate model. We use a global chemical transport model, driven by the prescribed meteorological fields from an air-sea coupled climate model simulation. Compared with observed data, the ozone simulation shows differences in distribution and concentration levels; in the vicinity of the Korean Peninsula, a large error occurred in summer. Our analysis reveals that this bias is mainly due to the difference in atmospheric circulation, as the anomalous southerly winds lead to the decrease in tropospheric ozone in this region. In addition, observational data have shown that the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) reduces tropospheric ozone across the southern China/Korean Peninsula/Japan region. In the model, the ozone changes associated with WNPSH are shifted westward relative to the observations. Our findings suggest that the variations in WNPSH should be considered in predicting tropospheric ozone concentrations.

• Atmosphere
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2020

This study analyzed and compared development mechanisms leading to heat waves of 2016 and 2018 in Korea. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis Interim (ERA Interim) dataset and Automated Surface Observing System data are used for synoptic scale analysis. The synoptic conditions are investigated using geopotential height, temperature, equivalent potential temperature, thickness, potential vorticity, omega, outgoing longwave radiation, and blocking index, etc. Heat waves in South Korea occur in relation to Western North Pacific Subtropical High (WNPSH) pressure system which moves northwestward to East Asia during summer season. Especially in 2018, WNPSH intensified due to strong large-scale circulation associated with convective activities in the Philippine Sea, and moved farther north to Korea when compared to 2016. In addition, the Tibetan high near the tropopause settled over Northern China on top of WNPSH creating a very strong anticyclonic structure in the upper-level over the Korean Peninsula. Unlike 2018, WNPSH was weaker and centered over the East China Sea in 2016. Analysis of blocking indices show wide blocking phenomena over the North Pacific and the Eurasian continent during heat wave event in both years. The strong upper-level ridge which was positioned zonally near 60°N, made the WNPSH over the South Korea stagnant in both years. Analysis of heat wave intensity (HWI) and duration (HWD) show that HWI and HWD in 2018 was both strong leading to extreme high temperatures. In 2016 however, HWI was relatively weak compared to HWD. The longevity of HWD is attributed to atmosphere blocking in the surrounding Eurasian continent.

• Atmosphere
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.483-488
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• 2012

The monsoon front lies on East Asian region, but it gradually propagates to the north during the boreal summer. The equivalent potential temperature (EPT) reveals the thermodynamical features of air masses and monsoon front. Therefore, this study considered the thermodynamical EPT and dynamical wind fields to clarify the peculiarity of East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) variations in June and July, respectively. Western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) and Okhotsk sea high (OSH) both play the crucial role to interannual variations of EASM frontal activity and amount of rainfall. The OSH is important in June, but the WNPSH is key factor in July. Furthermore, the OSH (June) is affected by North Atlantic tripolar sea surface temperature (SST) pattern and WNPSH (July) is influenced by North Indian Ocean SST warming.

• Atmosphere
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.189-196
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• 2014

The definition of onset date of Changma is revisited in this study using a quality controlled Ieodo ocean research station data. The Ieodo station has great importance in terms of its southwest location from Korean Peninsula and, hence, makes it possible to predict Changma period in advance with less impact of continents. The onset date of Changma using the Ieodo station data is defined by the time that meridional wind direction changes and maintains from northerly to southerly, and then the zonal wind changes from easterly to westerly after first June. This definition comes from a recognition that the establishment and movement of the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) cause Changma through southwesterly flow. The onset data of Changma has been determined by large-scale dynamic-thermodynamic characteristics or various meteorological station data. However, even the definition based on circulation data at the Ieodo station has a potential for the improved prediction skill of the onset date of Changma. The differences between before and after Changma, defined as Ieodo station data, are also found in synoptic chart. The convective instability and conspicuous circulations, corresponding low-level southwesterly flow related to WNPSH and strong upper-level zonal wind, are represented during Changma.

• Atmosphere
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.563-576
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• 2021

The performance of East Asian summer monsoon is assessed for GC2 and GC3.1, which are climate change models of the current and next climate prediction system in the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), GloSea5 and GloSea6. The most pronounced characteristics of GC models are strong monsoon trough and the weakening of the Western North Pacific Subtropical High (WNPSH). These are related to the weakening of the southwesterly wind and resulting weak monsoon band toward the Korean Peninsula. The GC3.1 is known to have improved the model configuration version compared to GC2, such as cloud physics and ocean parameters. We can confirm that the overall improvements of GC3.1 against GC2, especially in pressure, 850 hPa wind fields, and vertical wind shear. Also, the precipitation band stagnant in the south of 30°N in late spring is improved, therefore the biases of rainy onset and withdrawal on the Korean Peninsula are reduced by 2~4 pentad. We also investigate the impact of initialization in comparison with GloSea5 hindcast. Compared with GCs, hindcast results show better simulation within 1 month lead time, especially in pressure and 850 hPa wind fields, which can be expected to the improvement of WNPSH. Therefore, it is expected that the simulation performance of WNPSH will be improved in the result of applying the initialization of GloSea6.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.102-106
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• 2013

The intensity of the East Asian summer monsoon has a negative correlation with that of the western North Pacific summer monsoon. Based on the relationship, we suggest the potential predictability of Northeast Asian summer precipitation by using the relationship. The western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) properly represents the intensity of the western North Pacific summer monsoon. It also dominates climate anomalies in the western North Pacific-East Asian region in summertime. The estimates of the Northeast Asian summer rainfall anomalies using WNPSH variability have a greater benefit than those using the western North Pacific monsoon index.

• Atmosphere
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.277-290
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• 2017

Characteristics of precipitation in South Korea during the 2016 Changma period (6/18~7/30) are analyzed in great details. El $Ni{\tilde{n}}o$-induced tropical Indian Ocean (IO) basin-wide warming lasts from spring to early summer and induces the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) circulation anomaly through an equatorial Kelvin wave during the 2016 Changma period. Along the northern edge of the WNPSH, strong precipitation occurred, in particular, over eastern China and southern Japan. During the Changma period, South Korea had the near-normal mean precipitation amount (~332 mm). However, about 226 mm of rain fell in South Korea during 1 July to 6 July, which amounts to 67% of total Changma precipitation in that year. Upper-level synoptic migratory lows and low-level moisture transport played an essential role, especially from 1 July to 3 July, in triggering an abrupt development of fronts over the Korean Peninsula and the eastern continent China. The front over the eastern China migrates progressively eastward, which results in heavy rainfall over the Korean peninsula from 1 to 3 July. In contrast, from 4 to 6 July, the typhoon (NEPARTAK) affected an abrupt northward advance of the North Pacific subtropical high (NPSH). The northward extension of the NPSH strengthens the Changma front and induces the southerly flows toward the Korean peninsula, giving rise to an increase in heavy rainfall. The NEPARTAK is generated due to interaction of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), equatorial Rossby wave and Kelvin waves.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.136-147
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• 2013

This study examined the effect of the Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) in June on the June rainfall in Korea by using a correlational statistical analysis. Results showed that there is a highly positive correlation between the two variables. In other words, the June rainfall in Korea is influenced by the Mascarene High and Australian High that are strengthened in the Southern Hemisphere, which is a typical positive AAO pattern. When these two anomalous pressure systems strengthen, the cold cross-equatorial flows in the direction from the region around Australia to the equator are intensified, which in turn, force a western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) to develop northward. This pressure development eventually drives the rain belt to head north. As a result, the Changma begins early in the positive AAO phase and the June rainfall increases in Korea. In addition, a WNPSH that develops more northward increases the landfall (or affecting) frequency of tropical cyclones in Korea, which plays an important role in increasing the June rainfall.