• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.1051-1061
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• 2007

The impact of midlatitude synoptic system (upper-level trough) on typhoon intensity change was investigated by analyzing the spatial and temporal characteristics of vertical wind shear (VWS), relative eddy momentum flux convergence (REFC), and potential vorticity (PV). These variables were computed over the radial mean $300{\sim}1,000km$ from the typhoon center by using GDAPS (Global Data Assimilation and Prediction System) data provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The selected cases in this study are typhoons Rusa (0215) and Maemi (0314), causing much damage in life and property in Korea. Results show that the threshold value of VWS indicating typhoon intensity change (typhoon to severe tropical storm) is approximately 15 m/s and of REFC ranges 6 to 6.5 $ms^{-1}day^{-1}$ in both cases, respectively. During the period with the intensity of typhoon class, PVs with 3 to 3.5 PVU are present in 360K surface-PV field in the cases. In addition, there is a time-lag of 24 hours between central pressure of typhoon and minimum value of VWS, meaning that the midlatitude upper-level trough interacts with the edge of typhoon with a horizontal distance less than 2,000 km between trough and typhoon. That is, strong midlatitude upper-level divergence above the edge of the typhoon provides a good condition for strengthening the vertical circulation associated with the typhoons. In particular, when the distance between typhoon and midlatitude upper-level trough is less than 1,000 km, the typhoons tend to weaken to STS (Severe Tropical Storm). It might be mentioned that midlatitude synoptic system affects the intensity change of typhoons Rusa (0215) and Maemi (0314) while they moves northward. Thus, these variables are useful for diagnosing the intensity change of typhoon approaching to the Korean peninsula.

• Atmosphere
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2013

Ensemble sensitivity has been recently proposed as a method to analyze the dynamics of severe weather events. We adopt it to investigate the physical mechanism which caused the heavy rainfall over the Korean Peninsula on 6th August 2003. Two rainfall peaks existed in this severe weather event. The selected response functions are 1 hour accumulated rainfall amount of each rainfall peak. Sensitivity fields were calculated using 36 ensemble members which were generated by WRFDA. The sensitive regions for the first rainfall peak are located over the Shandong Peninsula and the Yellow Sea at 12 hours before the first rainfall peak. However, the 12-h forecast sensitivity for the second rainfall peak is revealed near Typhoon ETAU (0310) and midlatitude trough. These results show that the first rainfall peak was induced by low pressure which located over the northern part of the Korean Peninsula while the second rainfall peak was caused by the interaction between typhoon ETAU and midlatitude trough.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 1996

I followed the results of Lee and Min(1996) for classification of the months of cold and warm winter. The winter of 1992 and 1984 recorded extraordinary cold and warm. Study of the Synoptic Climatology on the January's cold and warm winter is below: (1) Climatology's characteristic. Temperature of extremely high temperature month is higher compared with extremely low temperature month. Also precipitation is more than over low temperature month compared with extremely high temperature month. (2) In circulation of 500hPa surface. (1) Extremely high temperature month At 500hPa, negative geopotential height anomalies in high latitude, three trough developed over eastern Canada. In midlatitude, a deep trough persisted in the central North Pacific and conspicuous positive height anomalies showed over northwestern Europe, Where a blocking anticyclone developed. It had been warmer than normal since last year in Korea due mainly to positive height anomalies stretched from central Siberia (2) Extremely low temperature month Appeared the strong meridional circulation and negative height anomalies showed from Far East to the Mid-Pacific and appeared ridge in the west of the North America and Atlantic. Alutien Low shows negative deviation during 1984. In northern hemisphere shows negative deviation. Therefore, we can show that the surface pressure distribution and height distribution of 500hPa level are closely connected with each other as parts of general circulation. (3) The characteristics of the general circulation pattern of the 500hPa (1) Extremely high temperature month is high than extremely low temperature month1984 in Zonal index (2) The majority type is S type in 500hPa level circulation of extremely high temperature month but extremely high temperature month is M type (3) The wave number in 500hPa all shows 3 wave. So can not distinguished by only predominant wave number pattern.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 1996

The Korean Peninsula is located on the east coast of monsoon Asia of the midlatitude, where the Pacific polar front moves. As a result variations of spatial and temporal distribution of precipitation occur. A great variation of precipitation during the summer months created frequent droughts and floods. The purpose of this study is to identify distributional characteristics and to analyze synopic characteristics of summer droughts in Korea. The research methods used are ; (1) to identify droughts based on the anomaly of monthly precipitation during summer of 1994. (2) to analyze correlations between drought and weather systems by using the calender of rain days. (3) to compare a synoptic mechanism of summer droughts with that of typical normal summer. The characteristics of summer droughts of 1994 may be summarized as follows ; 1) While most regions were affected by the droughts some regions displayed specific characteristics. The southern part of the Korean Peninsula was severely affected during the month of June. August droughts severely affected east part of the Sobek Mountains, thus showing that the droughts of June and August are highly localized. 2) In the pressure anomaly of surface field. the positive anomaly appears in June around Korean Peninsula, but in July when all parts of the South Korea were under severe droughts, the anomaly changes and becomes negative. 3) Extracyclones occurred less frequently in the summer of 1994. Those that did occur were located in areas far off the Korean Peninsula having little consequences on the drought patterns. 4) The trough of westerly wave at 500hPa height patterns in June is located far from the eastern sea of Korean Peninsula, but in July and August Korean Peninsula belongs to ridge of westerly wave. 5) In June the positive height anomaly at 500hPa surface appears zonally from Siberia to the western Parts of North Pacific Ocean, and in July and August, the strong positive anomaly appears around Korean Peninsula. As a result the zonal index of westerlies at during each month of summer in Korean sector has a large value, which in turn implies that drought will prevails when zonal flow is strong.