• Atmosphere
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.173-188
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• 2014

The KMA has cooperated with the Oklahoma University in USA to develop a Polarimetric Radar Data (PRD) simulator to improve the microphysical processes in Korea Local Analysis and Prediction System (KLAPS), which is critical for the utilization of PRD into Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) field. The simulator is like a tool to convert NWP data into PRD, so it enables us to compare NWP data with PRD directly. The simulator can simulate polarimetric radar variables such as reflectivity (Z), differential reflectivity ($Z_{DR}$), specific differential phase ($K_{DP}$), and cross-correlation coefficient (${\rho}_{hv}$) with input of the Drop Size Distribution (DSD) and scattering calculation of the hydrometeors. However, the simulator is being developed based on the foreign observation data, therefore the PRD simulator development reflecting rainfall characteristics of Korea is needed. This study analyzed a potential application of the 2-Dimension Video Disdrometer (2DVD) data by calculating the raindrop axis ratio according to the rain-types to reflect Korea's rainfall characteristics into scattering module in the simulator. The 2DVD instrument measures the precipitation DSD including the fall velocity and the shape of individual raindrops. We calculated raindrop axis ratio for stratiform, convective and mixed rainfall cases after checking the accuracy of 2DVD data, which usually represent the scattering characteristics of precipitation. The raindrop axis ratio obtained from 2DVD data are compared with those from foreign database in the simulator. The calculated the dual-polarimetric radar variables from the simulator using the obtained raindrop axis ratio are also compared with in situ dual-polarimetric observation data at Bislsan (BSL). 2DVD observation data show high accuracies in the range of 0.7~4.8% compared with in situ rain gauge data which represents 2DVD data are sufficient for the use to simulator. There are small differences of axis ratio in the diameter below 1~2 mm and above 4~5 mm, which are more obvious for bigger raindrops especially for a strong convective rainfall case. These differences of raindrop axis ratio between domestic and foreign rainfall data base suggest that the potential use of disdrometer observation can develop of a PRD simulated suitable to the Korea precipitation system.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.313-322
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• 2020

There is always a risk of water disasters due to sudden storms in mountainous regions in Korea, which is more than 70% of the country's land. In this study, a radar-based risk prediction technique for sudden downpour is applied in the mountainous region and is evaluated for its applicability using Mt. Biseul rain radar. Eight local heavy rain events in mountain regions are selected and the information was calculated such as early detection of cumulonimbus convective cells, automatic detection of convective cells, and risk index of detected convective cells using the three-dimensional radar reflectivity, rainfall intensity, and doppler wind speed. As a result, it was possible to confirm the initial detection timing and location of convective cells that may develop as a localized heavy rain, and the magnitude and location of the risk determined according to whether or not vortices were generated. In particular, it was confirmed that the ground rain gauge network has limitations in detecting heavy rains that develop locally in a narrow area. Besides, it is possible to secure a time of at least 10 minutes to a maximum of 65 minutes until the maximum rainfall intensity occurs at the time of obtaining the risk information. Therefore, it would be useful as information to prevent flash flooding disaster and marooned accidents caused by heavy rain in the mountainous area using this technique.

• Atmosphere
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.187-200
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• 2018

The heavy snowfall phenomenon with thunder and lightning occurred in Yeongdong coastal region on 20 January 2017. Amount of snow on that day was a maximum of 47 cm and was concentrated in a short time (2 hours) at the Yeongdong coastal area. The mechanism of thundersnow was investigated to describe in detail using observational data and numerical simulation (Weather Research and Forecast, WRF) applied lightning option. The results show that a convective cloud occurred at the Yeongdong coastal area. The east wind flow was generated and the pressure gradient force was maximized by the rapidly developed cyclone. The cold and dry air in the upper atmosphere has descended (so called tropopause folding) atmospheric lower layer at precipitation peak time (1200 LST). In addition, latent heat in the lower atmosphere layer and warm sea surface temperature caused thermal instability. The convective cloud caused by the strong thermal instability was developed up to 6 km at that time. And the backdoor cold front was determined by the change characteristics of meteorological elements and shear line in the east sea. Instability indexes such as Total totals Index (TT) and Lightning Potential Index (LPI) are also confirmed as one of good predictability indicates for the explosive precipitation of convective rainfall.

• 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.

• Atmosphere
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.24-43
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• 2004

This paper describes the detailed characteristics of heavy rainfall events occurred in Chungcheong province on 15 and 16 April and from 6 to 8 August 2002 based on the analysis of raingauge rainfall rate and radar reflectivity from the METRI's X-band Weather Radar located in Cheongju. A synoptic analysis of the case is carried out, first, and then the analysis is devoted to seeing how the radar observes the case and how much information we obtain. The highly resolved radar reflectivity of horizontal and vertical resolutions of 1 km and 500 m, respectively shows a three-dimensional structure of the precipitating system, in a similar sequence with the ground rainfall rate. The radar echo classification algorithm for convective/stratiform cloud is applied. In the convectively-classified area, the radar reflectivity pattern shows a fair agreement with that of the surface rainfall rate. This kind of classification using radar reflectivity is considered to be useful for the precipitation forecasting. Another noteworthy aspect of the case includes the effect of topography on the precipitating system, following the analysis of the surface rainfall rate, topography, and precipitating system. The results from this case study offer a unique opportunity of the usefulness of weather radar for better understanding of structural and variable characteristics of flash flood-producing heavy rainfall events, in particular for their improved forecasting.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.89-114
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• 2008

Interrelationship between heavy rainfalls and related with low-level jets(LLJ) is analyzed by using fifty cases of heavy rainfall events occurred over the Korean peninsula from 1992 to 2001. Those cases are classified with four synoptical features. There are 32% chances that the low pressure exist in heavy rainfall over than 150 mm per day case by case. Secondly Changma front and front zone account for 28% of all cases. The ratio of marine tropical boundary type and trough type record 22% and 18% respectively. The moist and warm south-westerly winds associated with low-level jets have been induced convective instability and baroclinic instability. Therefore, heavy rainfall due to the approach of a low pressure occurred at September and before Changma. During the period of Changma, this type has been happened heavy rainfall when low pressure and stationary front has vibrated south and north. Changma type has longer the duration time of precipitation than other types. Third type, located with marine Tropical boundary, have mainly rained in August and September. The last trough case locally downpoured in short time with developing cell. The occurrence low-level jets related to heavy rainfall has increased over 12.5 m/s wind speed. The result is that 43 heavy rainfalls out of 50 cases reach peak at the time of maximum precipitation intensity. Also, the variation of wet number and K-index corresponded with the variation of wind speed. It is found that the number of frequency of low-level jets with southwestward direction has been increased and these jets are mainly passed from the southwest toward to the northeast of the Korean peninsula in that time.

• Proceedings of the Korean Quaternary Association Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.24-25
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• 2004

It is well known that there is an inverse relationship between the strength of Indian summer monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) and extent of Eurasian snow cover/depth in the preceding season. Tibetan snow cover/depth also affects the Asian monsoon rainy season largely. The positive correlation between Tibetan sensible heat flux and southeast Asian rainfall suggest an inverse relationship between Tibetan snow cover and southeast Asian rainfall. Developments in Regional Climate Models suggest that the effect of Tibetan snow on the ISMR can be well studied by Limited Area Models (LAMs). LAMs are used for regional climate studies and operational weather forecast of several hours to 3 days in future. The Eta model developed by the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), the Fifth-Generation NCAR/Penn State Mesoscale Model (MM5) and Regional Climate Model (RegCM) have been used for weather prediction as well as for the study of present-day climate and variability over different parts of the world. Regional Climate Model (RegCM3) has been widely . used for various mesoscale studies. However, it has not been tested to study the characteristics of circulation features and associated rainfall over India so far. In the present study, Regional Climate Model (RegCM-3) has been integrated from 1 st April to 30th September for the years 1993-1996 and monthly mean monsoon circulation features and rainfall simulated by the model at 55km resolution have been studied for the Indian summer monsoon season. Characteristics of wind at 850hPa and 200hPa, temperature at 500hPa, surface pressure and rainfall simulated by the model have been examined for two convective schemes such as Kuo and Grell with Arakawa-Schubert as the closure scheme, Model simulated monsoon circulation features have been compared with those of NCEP/NCAR reanalyzed fields and the rainfall with those of India Meteorological Department (IMD) observational rainfall datasets, Comparisons of wind and temperature fields show that Grell scheme is closer to the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis, The influence of Tibetan snowdepth in spring season on the summer monsoon circulation features and subsequent rainfall over India have been examined. For such sensitivity experiment, NIMBUS-7 SMMR snowdepth data have been used as a boundary condition in the RegCM3, Model simulation indicates that ISMR is reduced by 30% when 10cm of snow has been introduced over Tibetan region in the month of previous April. The existence of Tibetan snow in RegCM3 also indicates weak lower level monsoon westerlies and upper level easterlies.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2008

According to recent frequent local flash flood due to climate change, the very short-term rainfall forecast using remotely sensed rainfall like radar is necessary to establish. This research is to evaluate the feasibility of GIS-based distributed model coupled with radar rainfall, which can express temporal and spatial distribution, for multipurpose dam operation during flood season. $Vflo^{TM}$ model was used as physically based distributed hydrologic model. The study area was Yongdam dam basin ($930\;km^2$) and the 3 storm events of local convective rainfall in August 2005, and the typhoon.Ewiniar.and.Bilis.collected from Jindo radar was adopted for runoff simulation. Distributed rainfall consistent with hydrologic model grid resolution was generated by using K-RainVieux, pre-processor program for radar rainfall. The local bias correction for original radar rainfall shows reasonable results of which the percent error from the gauge observation is less than 2% and the bias value is $0.886{\sim}0.908$. The parameters for the $Vflo^{TM}$ were estimated from basic GIS data such as DEM, land cover and soil map. As a result of the 3 events of multiple peak hydrographs, the bias of total accumulated runoff and peak flow is less than 20%, which can provide a reasonable base for building operational real-time short-term rainfall-runoff forecast system.

• Atmosphere
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.183-197
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to summarize tropical cyclone activity in 2007. 24 tropical cyclones of tropical storm (TS) intensity or higher formed in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in 2007. The total number is less than the thirty-year (1971~2000) average frequency of 26.7. Out of twenty four tropical cyclones, 14 TCs reached typhoon (TY) intensity, while the rest 10 only reached severe tropical storm (STS) and tropical storm (TS) intensity - four STS and six TS storms. The tropical cyclone season in 2007 began in April with the formation of KONG-REY (0701). From April to May, two TCs formed in the western North Pacific in response to enhanced convective activity there. From June to July, convective activity turned inactive over the sea around the Philippines and in the South China Sea, and the subtropical high was weak over the south of Japan. MAN-YI (0704) and USAGI (0705) moved northwestward and hit Japan, bringing serious damage to the country. After August, convective activity became enhanced over the sea east of the Philippines, and the subtropical high turned strong over the sea south of Japan. Many TCs, which formed over the sea east of the Philippines and in the South China Sea, moved westward and hit China and Vietnam. PABUK (0706), WUTIP (0707), SEPAT (0708), WIPHA (0712), LEKIMA (0714) and KROSA (0715) brought serious damage to some countries including China, the Philippines and Vietnam. On the other hand, FITOW (0709) and NARI (0711) moved northward, bringing serious damage to Japan and Korea. After HAIYAN (0716), all four TCs except FAXAI (0720) formed over the sea east of $140^{\circ}E$. Three typhoons among them affected Republic of Korea, MAN-YI (0704), USAGI (0705) and NARI (0711). Particularly, NARI (0711) moved northward and made landfall at Goheng Peninsula ($34.5^{\circ}N$, $127.4^{\circ}E$) in 1815 KST 16 September. Due to $11^{th}$ typhoon NARI, strong wind and record-breaking rainfall amount was observed in Jeju Island. It was reported that the daily precipitation was 420.0 mm at Jeju city, Jeju Island on 16 September the highest daily rainfall since Jeju began keeping records in 1927. This typhoon hit the southern part of the Korean peninsula and Jeju Island. 18 people lost their lives, 14,170 people were evacuated and US$ 1.6 billion property damage was occurred.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.335-346
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• 2017

This study generated the radar-based forecasted rainfall using spatial-scale decomposition method (SCDM) and evaluated the hydrological applicability with forecasted rainfall by KMA (MAPLE, KONOS) in terms of urban flood forecasting. SCDM is to separate the small-scale field (convective cell) and large-scale field (straitform cell) from radar rainfield. And each separated field is forecasted by translation model and storm tracker nowcasting model for improvement of QPF accuracy. As the evaluated results of various QPF for three rainfall events in Seoul and Metropolitan area, proposed method showed better prediction accuracy than MAPLE and KONOS considering the simplicity of the methodology. In addition, this study assessed the urban hydrological applicability for Gangnam basin. As the results, KONOS simulated the peak of water depth more accurately than MAPLE and SCDM, however cannot simulated the timeseries pattern of water depth. In the case of SCDM, the quantitative error was larger than observed water depth, but the simulated pattern was similar to observation. The SCDM will be useful information for flood forecasting if quantitative accuracy is improved through the adjustment technique and blending with NWP.