• Wind and Structures
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.177-188
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• 2012

The meteorological events that cause most strong winds in Brazil are extra-tropical cyclones, downbursts and tornadoes. However, one hurricane formed off the coastline of southern Brazil in 2005, a tropical storm formed in 2010 and there are predictions that others may form again. Events such as those described in the paper and which have occurred before 1987, generate data for the wind map presented in the Brazilian wind loading code NBR-6123. This wind map presents the reference wind speeds based on 3-second gust wind speed at 10 m height in open terrain, with 50-year return period, varying from 30 m/s (north half of country) to 50 m/s (extreme south). There is not a separation of the type of climatological event which generated each registered velocity. Therefore, a thunderstorm (TS), an extra-tropical pressure system (EPS) or even a tropical cyclone (TC) are treated the same and its resulting velocities absorbed without differentiation. Since the flow fields generated by each type of meteorological event may be distinct, the indiscriminate combination of the highest wind velocities with aerodynamic coefficients from boundary layer wind tunnels may lead to erroneous loading in buildings.

• Atmosphere
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.473-481
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• 2012

The objective methods estimating the radius of maximum wind (RMW) of tropical cyclones (TCs) are discussed using infraed (IR) imagery of geostationary satellite, and an alternative method is suggested that can estimate RMW in the TCs having eyes using IR imagery. The RMW-estimating methods are based on the characteristic structure of the eyewall of a tropical cyclone. RMW is dependent upon the radius of the eye and the distance from the center to the top of the most developed convective cloud. In order to test these methods, blackbody brightness temperature of Korean geostationary satellite, COMS (Communication, Ocean, and Meteorological Satellite) IR imagery are utilized in this study. The estimated RMWs are compared with surface winds of ASCAT (Advanced Scatterometer) of a polar orbiting satellite.

• Atmosphere
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.183-198
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to summarize the tropical cyclone (TC) activity of 2008 over the western North Pacific including the verification of the official track and intensity forecast errors of these TCs. The TC activity - frequency, Normalized Typhoon Activity (NTA), and life span - was lower than 58-year (1951-2008) average. 22 tropical cyclones of tropical storm (TS) intensity or higher formed in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in 2008. The total number is less than 58-year average frequency of 26.4. Out of 22 tropical cyclones, 11 TCs reached typhoon (TY) intensity, while the rest 11 TCs only reached severe tropical storm (STS) and tropical storm (TS) intensity - six STS and five TS storms. One typhoon KALMAEGI (0807) among them affected the Korea peninsula. However, no significant impact - casualty or property damage - was reported. On average of 22 TCs in 2008, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) official track forecast error for 48 hours was 229 km. There was a big challenge for individual cyclones such as 0806 FENGSHEN and 0817 HIGOS presenting significant forecast error, with both intricate tracks and irregular moving speed. The tropical cyclone season in 2008 began in April with the formation of NEOGURI (0801). In May, four TCs formed in the western North Pacific in response to enhanced convective activity. On the other hand, the TC activity was very weak from June to August. It is found that the unusual anti-cyclonic circulation in the lower level and weak convection near the Philippines are dominant during summertime. The convection and atmospheric circulation in the western North Pacific contributed unfavorable condition for TC activity in the 2008 summertime. The 2008 TC activity has continued the below normal state since mid 1990s which is apparent the decadal variability in TC activity.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.469-488
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• 2015

A full-scale instrumented low-rise building with gable roof was built at a coastal site with a high incidence of tropical cyclones for monitoring of wind effects on the building during windstorms. This paper presents the field measurements of the wind velocity field around and the wind-induced pressures on the low-rise building during the passage of severe tropical storm Soudelor. Near-ground wind characteristics such as wind speed, wind direction, turbulence intensity, gust factor, turbulence integral length scale and wind velocity spectra were investigated. The wind-induced pressures on the roof of the building were analyzed and discussed. The results revealed that the eave and ridge edges on the roof were subjected to the most severe suction pressures under quartering winds. These suction pressures showed obvious non-Gaussian behavior. The measured results were compared with the provisions of ASCE 7-10 to assess the suitability of the code of practice for the wind-resistant design of low-rise buildings under tropical cyclones. The field study aims to provide useful information that can enhance our understanding of the extreme wind effects on low-rise buildings in an effort to reduce tropical cyclone wind damages to residential buildings.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.23-45
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• 2023

Tuvalu is a small reef islands country in the Pacific Ocean. Its coastal regions are very much dynamic due to the profound effects of tropical cyclones and sea level rise (SLR). However, research works on coastline dynamics of Tuvalu mainly cover its capital, Funafuti. Therefore, this review summarizes the extent of long-term coastal changes in different islets of Funafuti and on overall Tuvalu. In Funafuti, highly accreting areas are Te Afualiku, Fuafatu, Motugie, and Amatuku, and highly eroding areas are Fuagea and Tefala with the fully disappeared islet of Vasafua after 2005. However, in spite of different causes and supposition of scientists on disappearing these lands the accretion is more dominant than erosion which resulted in 7.3% net increase of land areas of Tuvalu over 117 years till 2015. Severe tropical cyclones mainly caused accretion of land areas by forming coral rubble rampart formation and further reworks and erosion to small sandy islands whereas frequent low-energy cyclones mainly caused erosion. Though, till now severe erosion of coastal areas are not evident by global SLR, islets of Funafuti experienced remarkable shoreline increase as formation of 30-40 m wide rubble rampart formation along 19 km in 1971 by tropical cyclone Bebe and net increase of area of 3.45 ha by tropical cyclone Pam in 2015. In spite of such overall accretion of coastal areas several scientists suspect drowning of its areas in future because of high SLR (~5.1±0.7 mm/year) at Funafuti which supposedly will not work as a breakwater anymore. Thus, protection measures should be taken to prevent coastline erosion as well as land reclamation activities should be done following the global examples.

• Atmosphere
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2005

A significant number of tropical cyclones move into the midlatitudes and go through transformation procedure into extratropical cyclones. This process is generally referred to as extratropical transition of the tropical cyclone. In this study, MIDULLE(0407) case is selected. A thorough analysis is made using the GDAPS analysis data and MTM (Moving-nest Typhoon Model) model output. It is found that during the extratropical transition an important dynamics in the environmetal flow field occurs in which colder, drier (warm, moist) air penetrates in the western (eastern) quadrant of MINDULLE's outer circulation, which in turn initiates an asymmetry in the distribution of wind and temperature of the tropical cyclone. Simulated MTM result also reveals similar properties as in GDAPS analysis data. MTM result shows the gradual transition to the asymmetric distribution of wind and thickness as the extratropical transition proceeds. It is also found that the warm core disappears during the extratropical transition stage. Also, vortex tube is shown tilting towards the west during the transition. And the precipitation expands poleward of the center and the maximum precipitation appears to the left of MINDULLE which is consistent to the observations.

• 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 the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2022

Although tropical cyclones with wind speeds weaker than 17 ms^-1 (weak tropical cyclones: WTCs) can cause significant damage, particularly over the Seoul metropolitan area, only a few studies have focused on WTC activity over South Korea. In this study, we found that WTC activity is likely associated with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). During the negative phases of the PDO, landfall frequency of WTCs increased significantly compared to the positive phases at 95% confidence level. When related to the negative phases of the PDO, a positive relative vorticity anomaly is found in the northern sector of the western North Pacific while a negative relative vorticity anomaly and enhanced vertical wind shear prevail in the southern sector of the WNP. These factors are favorable for the northward shift of the genesis location of tropical cyclones on average, thereby reducing the total lifetime of WTCs. Moreover, a high-pressure anomaly over the Japanese islands would shift a tropical cyclone track westward in addition to the landfall location. Consequently, the effects of the topographical friction and the Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water on a tropical cyclone may increase. These conditions could result in a weaker lifetime maximum intensity and landfall intensity, ultimately resulting in WTCs becoming more frequent over South Korea during the negative phases of the PDO.

• Atmosphere
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2024

The seasonal forecast skill of tropical cyclones (TCs) in the Northern Hemisphere from the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) Global Seasonal Forecast System version 6 (GloSea6) hindcast has been verified for the period 1993 to 2016. The operational climate prediction system at KMA was upgraded from GloSea5 to GloSea6 in 2022, therefore further validation was warranted for the seasonal predictability and variability of this new system for TC forecasts. In this study, we examine the frequency, track density, duration, and strength of TCs in the North Indian Ocean, the western North Pacific, the eastern North Pacific, and the North Atlantic against the best track data. This methodology follows a previous study covering the period 1996 to 2009 published in 2020. GloSea6 indicates a higher frequency of TC generation compared to observations in the western North Pacific and the eastern North Pacific, suggesting the possibility of more TC generation than GloSea5. Additionally, GloSea6 exhibits better interannual variability of TC frequency, which shows relatively good correlation with observations in the North Atlantic and the western North Pacific. Regarding TC intensity, GloSea6 still underestimates the minimum surface pressures and maximum wind speeds from TCs, as is common among most climate models due to lower horizontal resolutions. However, GloSea6 is likely capable of simulating slightly stronger TCs than GloSea5, partly attributed to more frequent 6-hourly outputs compared to the previous daily outputs.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.561-571
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• 2019

To understand the genesis of tropical cyclones (TC), we computed TC genesis probability (GPr) by partitioning a highly localized genesis frequency (GFq) into nearby grid boxes in proportion to the spatial coherence of genesis potential index (GPI). From the analysis of TCs simulated by the Seoul National University Atmosphere Model Version 0 and the observed TCs, it was shown that GPr reasonably converges to GFq when averaged over a long-term period in a decent grid size, supporting its validity as a proxy representing a true TC GPr. The composite anomalies of the gridded GPr in association with the Asia summer monsoon, El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) are much less noisy than those of GFq, and consequently are better interpretable. In summary, GPr converges to GFq, varies more smoothly than GFq, represents the spatiotemporal variations of GFq better than GPI, and depicts GFq with greater spatial details than other spatially smoothed GFqs.