• Atmosphere
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.489-510
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• 2021

In this paper, we propose an algorithm for detecting convective initiation (CI) using GEO-KOMPSAT-2A/advanced meteorological imager data. The algorithm identifies clouds that are likely to grow into convective clouds with radar reflectivity greater than 35 dBZ within the next two hours. This algorithm is developed using statistical and qualitative analysis of cloud characteristics, such as atmospheric instability, cloud top height, and phase, for convective clouds that occurred on the Korean Peninsula from June to September 2019. The CI algorithm consists of four steps: 1) convective cloud mask, 2) cloud object clustering and tracking, 3) interest field tests, and 4) post-processing tests to remove non-convective objects. Validation, performed using 14 CI events that occurred in the summer of 2020 in Korean Peninsula, shows a total probability of detection of 0.89, false-alarm ratio of 0.46, and mean lead-time of 39 minutes. This algorithm can be useful warnings of rapidly developing convective clouds in future by providing information about CI that is otherwise difficult to predict from radar or a numerical prediction model. This CI information will be provided in short-term forecasts to help predict severe weather events such as localized torrential rainfall and hail.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.430-432
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• 2008

Visible channel calibration method using deep convective clouds (DCCs) is developed. The method has advantages that visible radiance is not sensitive to cloud optical thickness (COT) for deep convective clouds because visible radiance no longer increases when COT exceeds 100. Therefore, once DCCs are chosen appropriately, and then cloud optical properties can be assumed without operational ancillary data for the specification of cloud conditions in radiative transfer model. In this study, it is investigated whether IR measurements can be used for the selection of DCC targets. To construct appropriate threshold value for the selection of DCCs, the statistics of cloud optical properties are collected with MODIS measurements. When MODIS brightness temperature (TB) at 11 ${\mu}$ m is restricted to be less than 190 K, it is shown that more than 85% of selected pixels show COT ${\geq}$ 100. Moreover, effective radius ($r_e$) distribution shows a sharp peak around 20 ${\mu}m$. Based on those MODIS observations, cloud optical properties are assumed as COT = 200 and $r_e$ = 20 ${\mu}m$ for the simulation of MODIS visible (0.646 ${\mu}m$) band radiances over DCC targets.

• Atmosphere
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.333-341
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• 2010

The stratiform rain fraction is investigated in the tropical boreal winter Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) and summer intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) using Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Rader data for the 11-yr period from 1998 to 2008. Composite analysis shows that the MJO/ISO produces larger stratiform rain rate than convective rain rate for nearly all phases following the propagating MJO/ISO deep clouds, with the greatest stratiform rainfall amount when the MJO/ISO center is located over the central-eastern Indian Ocean and the western Pacific. The fraction of the intraseasonally filtered stratiform rainfall compared to total rainfall (i.e., convective plus stratiform rainfall) amounts to 53~56%, which is 13~16% larger than the stratiform rain fraction estimated for the same data on seasonal-to-annual time scales by Schumacher and Houze. This indicates that the MJO/ISO exhibits the organized rainfall process which is characterized by the shallow convection/heating at the incipient phase and the subsequent flare-up of strong deep convection, followed by the development of stratiform clouds at the upper troposphere.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.33-45
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• 2011

The characteristics and vertical structure of the rainfall are examined in terms of rain types using TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) PR (Precipitation Radar) data during the JJA period of 2002-2006 over three different regions; midlatitude region around the Korean Peninsula (EA1), subtropical East Asia (EA2), and tropical East Asia (EA3). The convective rain fraction in the EA1 region is 12.2%, which is smaller by 6% than those in the EA2 and EA3 regions. EA1 shows less frequent convective rain events, which are about 0.5 times as many as those in EA3. EA1 produces the mean convective rain rate of 10.4 mm/h that is about 40% larger than EA2 and EA3 while all regions have similar mean stratiform rain rate. The relationships between storm height and rain rate indicate that the rain rate is proportional to the storm height. Based on the vertical structure of radar reflectivity, EA1 produces deeper and stronger convective clouds with higher rain rate compared to the other regions. In EA3, radar reflectivity increases distinctly toward the land surface at altitude below 5 km, indicating more dominant coalescence-collision processes than the other regions. Furthermore, the bright band of stratiform rain clouds in EA3 is very distinct. In convective rain clouds, the first EOFs of radar reflectivity profiles are similar among the three regions, while the second EOFs are slightly different. The larger variability exists at upper layers for EA1 while it exits at lower levels for EA3.

• Atmosphere
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.235-246
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• 2006

Remote sensing techniques using satellites or the scanning weather radars depend mostly on the presence of clouds or precipitation, and leave the extensive regions of clear air unobserved. But wind profilers provide the most direct measurements of mesoscale vertical air motion in the troposphere, even in the context of heavy precipitation. In this paper, the precipitation events during the Changma period was classified into 4 precipitation types - stratiform, mixed stratiform/ convective, deep convective, and shallow convective. The parameters for the classification of analysis are the vertical structure of reflectivity, Doppler velocity, and spectral width measured with the wind profiler at Haenam for a three-year period (2003-2005). In addition, the synoptic fields and total amount of precipitation were analyzed using the Global Final Analyses (FNL) data and the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) data. During the Changma period, the results show that the stratiform type was dominant under the moist-neutral atmosphere in 2003, whereas the deep convective type was under the moist unstable condition in 2004. The stratiform type was no less popular than the deep convective type among four seasons because the moist neutral layer was formed by the convergence between the upper-level jet and the low-level jet, and by the moisture transport along the western rim of the North Pacific subtropical anticyclone.

• Atmosphere
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.285-300
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• 2011

To discriminate and eliminate chaff echoes in radar measurements, a new removal algorithm in two-dimensional reflectivity composite at the height of 1.5 km has been developed by using the brightness temperature($T_B$) obtained from MTSAT-1R. This algorithm utilizes the fact that chaffs are not appeared in infrared satellite data of MTSAT-1R, but detected in radar measurements due to their significant backscattering in the given radar wavelength. The algorithm is evaluated for three different situations: chaff only, chaff mixed with convective storms, and chaff covered with clouds. The algorithm shows excellent performance for the cases of chaff only and chaff mixed with convective storms. However, the performance of the algorithm significantly depends on the presence of clouds. Thus, the statistical analysis of $T_B$ is performed in order to optimize the monthly threshold.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.293-303
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• 2000

The typhoon Jelawat, which was formed over the tropical Pacific ocean on August 1, 2000 and made a landfall over China on August 10, 2000, was observed by Korea Multi-purpose Satellite (KOMPSAT-1) Ocean Scanning Multispectral Imager (OSMI), Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)/Precipitation Radar(PR) and Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT). In spite of discontinuous observation, important mesoscale features of typhoon depending on life cycle were detected prominently. It is possible to distinguish on the OSMI photograph between the eye-wall convection and the stratiform and other convective clouds near the center of typhoon Jelawat. The TRMM/PR observations show quite clearly the eye-wall convection, stratiform regions, and convective bands. Vertical cross section of rainfall in the genesis stage of typhoon Jelawat exhibits circular ring of intense convection surrounding the eye. The mature stage of typhoon Jelawat consists of a strong rotational circulation with clouds which are well organized about a center of low pressure. The OSMI, TRMM/PR and QuikSCAT measurements presented here agree qualitatively with each other and provide a wealth of information on the structure of typhoon Jelawat.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.406-413
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• 2019

Red-Green-Blue (RGB) imagery techniques are useful for both forecasters and public users because they are intuitively understood, have advantageous visualization, and do not lose observational information. This study presents a novel RGB convective cloud product and its application to tropical cyclone analysis using Communication, Oceanography, and Meteorology (COMS) satellite observations. The RGB convective cloud product was developed using the brightness temperature differences between WV ($6.75{\mu}m$) and IR1 ($10.8{\mu}m$), and IR2 ($12.0{\mu}m$) and IR1 ($10.8{\mu}m$) as well as the brightness temperature in the IR1 bands of the COMS, with the threshold values estimated from the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) radar observations and the EUMETSAT RGB recipe. To verify the accuracy of the convective cloud RGB product, the product was applied to the center positions analysis of two typhoons in 2013. Thus, the convective cloud RGB product threshold values were estimated for WV-IR1 (-20 K to 15 K), IR1 (210 K to 300 K), and IR1-IR2 (-4 K to 2 K). The product application in typhoon analysis shows relatively low bias and root mean square errors (RMSE)s of 23 and 28 km for DANAS in 2013, and 17 and 22 km for FRANCISCO in 2013, as compared to the best tracks data from the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) in Tokyo. Consequently, our proposed RGB convective cloud product has the advantages of high accuracy and excellent visualization for a variety of meteorological applications.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.117-121
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• 1999

Relations between GMS-5 infrared brightness temperature with SSM/I retrieved rain rate are determined by a probability matching method similar to Atlas et al. and Crosson et al. For this study, coincident data sets of the GMS-5 infrared measurements and SSM/I data during two summer seasons of 1997 and 1998 are constructed. The cumulative density functions (CDFs) of infrared brightness temperature and rain rate are matched at pairs of two variables which give the same percentile contribution. The method was applied for estimating rain rate on 31 July 1998, examining heavy rainfall estimation of a flash flood event over Mt. Jiri. Results were compared with surface gauge observations run by Korean Meteorological Administration. It was noted that the method produced reasonably good quality of rain estimate, however, there was large area giving false rain due to the anvil type clouds surrounding deep convective clouds. Extensive validation against surface rain observation is currently under investigation.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.578-593
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• 2023

Intense convective activity and heavy precipitation inundated Seoul and its metropolitan area on July 15, 2017. This study investigated the synoptic-scale meteorological drivers of cold cloud genesis of this event. The WRF-Chem (Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry) model was employed to explore the intricate interplay between meteorological factors and the indirect effects of PM_2.5 aerosols originating from eastern China. The PM_2.5 aerosols' indirect effect was quantified by contrasting outcomes between the comprehensive Aerosol Radiation Interaction experiment (encompassing aerosol radiation feedback, cloud chemistry processes, and wet scavenging in the WRF-Chem model) and ACR (Aerosol Cloud Radiation interaction) experiment. The ACR experiment specifically excluded aerosol radiation feedback while incorporating only cloud chemistry processes and wet scavenging. Results indicated that in the early hours of July 15, 2017, a convergence of warm, moisture-laden airflow originating from southeast China and the East China Sea unfolded over the Yellow Sea. This convergence was driven by the juxtaposition of a low-pressure system over the Chinese mainland and Northwest Pacific high. Notably, at approximately 12 km altitude, the resultant convective clouds were characterized by the presence of ice crystals, a hallmark of continental-origin cold clouds. The WRF-Chem model simulations elucidated the role of PM_2.5 aerosols from eastern China, attributing 5.7, 10.4, and 10.8% to cloud water, ice crystal column, and liquid water column formation, respectively, within the developing cold clouds. Thus, this study presented a meteorological mechanism elucidating the formation of deep convective clouds over the Yellow Sea and the indirect effects of PM_2.5 aerosols originating from eastern China.