• Title/Summary/Keyword: weather charts

Search Result 38, Processing Time 0.025 seconds

Development Mechanisms of Summertime Air Mass Thunderstorms Occurring in the Middle Region of South Korea

  • Kim, K.E.;Heo B.H.;Lee, H.R.;Min, K.D.
    • International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics Korean Journal of Geophysical Research
    • /
    • v.23 no.1
    • /
    • pp.34-38
    • /
    • 1995
  • A diagnostic study on the summertime air mass thunderstorms occurring in the middle region of South Korea was made by analyzing the data of surface and upper air observations as well as the surface and upper level weather charts. The key parameters used in the present study are the amount of precipitable water below 850 hPa level, the vertical profiles of water vapor content and wind, and both the temperature difference and the equivalent potential temperature difference between 850 hPa and 700 hPa levels. It is found from this study that the summertime air mass thunderstorms in the middle region of South Korea can be classified into two distinct types, type I and type II. The thunderstorms of type I occur under the atmospheric conditions of high moisture content, low vertical wind shear in low levels, and conditional instability between 850 hPa and 700 hPa levels. On the other hand, the thunderstorms of type II occur under the atmospheric conditions of less moisture content, higher wind shear and conditional instability. Furthermore, our study suggests that atmospheric instability and the amount of water vapor below 850 hPa level are complementary in the development of air mass thunderstorms. The complementary nature between these two parameters may be an explanation for the thunderstorm development in the areas of low atmospheric water vapor content such as the plains of eastern Colorado.

  • PDF

A Case Study of Mesoscale Snowfall Development Associated with Tropopause Folding (대류권계면 접힘에 의한 중규모 강설 발달에 대한 사례 연구)

  • Kim, Jinyeon;Min, Ki-Hong;Kim, Kyung-Eak;Lee, Gyuwon
    • Atmosphere
    • /
    • v.23 no.3
    • /
    • pp.331-346
    • /
    • 2013
  • A case study of mesoscale snowfall with polar low signature during 25~26 December 2010 in South Korea is presented. The data used for analysis include surface and upper level weather charts, rain gauge, sea surface temperature, satellite imagery, sounding, and global $1^{\circ}{\times}1^{\circ}$ reanalysis data. The system initiated with a surface trough near the bay of Bohai but quickly intensified to become a polar low within 12 hours. The polar low moved southeastward bringing snowfall to southwestern Korea. There was strong instability layer beneath 800 hPa but baroclinicty was weak and disappeared as the low progressed onto land. Shortwave at 500 hPa and the surface trough became in-phase which hindered the development of the polar low while it approached Korea. However, there were strong tropopause folding (~500 hPa) and high potential vorticity (PV), which allowed the system to maintain its structure and dump 20.3 cm of snow in Jeonju. Synoptic, thermodynamic, dynamic, and moisture analyses reveal that polar low developed in an area of baroclinicity with strong conditional instability and warm air advection at the lower levels. Further, the development of a surface trough to polar low was aided by tropopause folding with PV advection in the upper level, shortwave trough at 500 hPa, and moisture advection with low-level jet (LLJ) of 15 m $s^{-1}$ or more at 850 hPa. Maximum snowfall was concentrated in this region with convection being sustained by latent heat release.

Causes of High PM2.5 Concentrations in Cheongju Owing to Non-Asian Dust Events (비황사 사례에 기인한 청주시 PM2.5 고농도 원인)

  • Kim, Da-Bin;Moon, Yun-Seob
    • Journal of the Korean earth science society
    • /
    • v.41 no.6
    • /
    • pp.557-574
    • /
    • 2020
  • The purpose of this study is to analyze the cause of high PM2.5 mass concentrations in Cheongju for the period of non-Asian dust days using the weather chart, the stream lines at 850 hPa, the backward trajectory, and the weather and air quality model. As a result of analyzing the time series of PM2.5 concentrations and weather charts for the episodic days in Cheongju, the weather patterns were shown in related to long-range transport of PM2.5 from China or surrounding areas. In fact, in the PM2.5 time series, 60-80 ㎍ m-3, which is more than 2-3 times higher than the concentration attributed to Cheongju activities, was observed as a background concentration related to long-range transport. The distribution of high PM2.5 concentration was typically dependent on the locations of the high and low pressures above the ground while the upper jet stream passed through the Korean Peninsula. Consequently, the high PM2.5 concentration in Cheongju is due to massive air pollutants in the form of smog originated from industrial, household and energy combustion sources of Beijing and other nearby regions of China. These air pollutants move along a fast zonal wind caused by the atmospheric pressure arrangement. high concentration of PM2.5 in Cheongju City is because the mass of air pollutants in the form of smog generated from industrial, household and energy combustion origins in Beijing or other nearby regions of China move along a fast wind speed zone according to the atmospheric pressure arrangement of long-distance transportation. Air pollutants including PM2.5 show an M-shaped pattern that passes through the topography of the Cheongju basin from north to south as a belt or band-shaped pollutant. The ground high pressure according to the above-ground high pressure expansion area and cut-off low or low pressure arrangement, or the bands in the form of river stems appear in a gradual incremental pattern that changes into a U-shape under the influence of the wind.

Analysis of Snowfall Development Mechanism over the Korean Peninsula due to Polar Low (극저기압에 의한 한반도 강설 발달기구 분석)

  • Kim, Jinyeon;Min, Ki-Hong
    • Journal of the Korean earth science society
    • /
    • v.34 no.7
    • /
    • pp.645-661
    • /
    • 2013
  • The synoptic, thermodynamic, and dynamic characteristics of a heavy snowfall event that occurred in Seoul metropolitan area on 27 to 28 December 2010 was investigated. During this period there was a distinctive case that was identified as a polar low. We analyzed surface and upper level weather charts, snowfall amount, sea surface temperature, satellite imagery, sounding, and the National Center for Environmental Prediction global $1^{\circ}{\times}1^{\circ}$ reanalysis data. The polar low developed in an area where there was strong baroclinicity in the lower level aided by strong conditional instability due to 925 hPa warm air advection and 700 hPa cold air advection. The development mechanism of polar low is due, in part, to the tropopause folding, which advected stratospheric air increasing potential vorticity in mid-level and inducing cyclonic vorticity and convergence in low-level. Eventually clouds developed and there were snowfall total of 10 cm in Seoul metropolitan area and as much as 20 cm in southern parts of Korea. During the snowfall development, there was a $-45^{\circ}C$ cold core at 500 hPa and shortwave maintained $3-5^{\circ}$ separation with surface trough, which favored the development of polar low located in the warm sector and cyclonic advection area. The height of the dynamical tropopause lowered to 700 hPa during the peak development and increase in potential vorticity allowed strong vertical motion to occur. Overall, there was a close relationship between the development of snowfall and tropopause undulation. The heaviest snowfall occurred east of the tropopause folding where strong cyclonic vorticity, vertical motion, and moisture advection all coincided while the polar low was passing through the Korean peninsula.

Variations of Ozone and PM10 Concentrations and Meteorological Conditions according to Airflow Patterns of their High Concentration Episodes on Jeju Island (제주지역 오존 및 미세먼지 고농도일의 기류패턴에 따른 농도변화와 기상조건 분석)

  • Han, Seung-Bum;Song, Sang-Keun;Choi, Yu-Na
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
    • /
    • v.26 no.2
    • /
    • pp.183-200
    • /
    • 2017
  • The classification of airflow patterns during high ozone ($O_3$) and $PM_{10}$ episodes on Jeju Island in recent years (2009-2015), as well as their correlation with meteorological conditions according to classified airflow patterns were investigated in this study. The airflow patterns for $O_3$ and $PM_{10}$ were classified into four types (Types A-D) and three types (Types E-G), respectively, using the HYbrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model and synoptic weather charts. Type A was the most dominant airflow pattern for $O_3$ episodes, being characterized by the transport of airflows from urban and industrial areas in China with the highest frequency (about 69%, with a mean of 67 ppb). With regard to the $PM_{10}$ episodes, Type E was the most dominant airflow pattern, and was mostly associated with long distance transport from Asian dust source regions along northwesterly winds, having the highest frequency (about 92%, with a mean of $136{\mu}g/m^3$). The variations in the concentration of $O_3$ and $PM_{10}$ during the study period were clarified in correlation with two pollutant and meteorological variables; for example, the high (low) $O_3$ and $PM_{10}$ concentrations with high (low) air temperature and/or wind speed and vice versa for precipitation. The contribution of long-range transport to the observed $PM_{10}$ levels in urban sites for different airflow patterns (Types E-F), if estimated in comparison to the data from the Gosan background site, was found to account for approximately 87-93% (on average) of its input. The overall results of the present study suggest that the variations in $O_3$ and $PM_{10}$ concentrations on Jeju Island are mainly influenced by the transport effect, as well as the contribution of local emissions.

Classification of Snowfalls over the Korean Peninsula Based on Developing Mechanism (발생기구에 근거한 한반도 강설의 유형 분류)

  • Cheong, Seong-Hoon;Byun, Kun-Young;Lee, Tae-Young
    • Atmosphere
    • /
    • v.16 no.1
    • /
    • pp.33-48
    • /
    • 2006
  • A classification of snowfall type based on development mechanism is proposed using previous snowfall studies, operational experiences, etc. Five types are proposed: snowfall caused by 1) airmass transformation (AT type), 2) terrain effects in a situation of expanding Siberian High (TE type), 3) precipitation systems associated with extratropical cyclones (EC type), 4) indirect effects of extratropical cyclones passing over the sea to the south of the Korean peninsula (ECS type), and 5) combined effects of TE and ECS types (COM type). Snowfall events during 1981-2001 are classified according to the 5 types mentioned above. For this, 118 events, with at least one station with daily snowfall depth greater than 20 cm, are selected. For the classification, synoptic weather charts, satellite images, and precipitation data are used. For TE and COM types, local sea-level pressure chart is also used to confirm the presence of condition for TE type (this is done for events in 1990 and thereafter). The classification shows that 109 out of 118 events can be classified as one of the 5 types. In the remaining 8 events, heavy snowfall occurred only in Ullung Island. Its occurrence may be due to one or more of the following mechanism: airmass transformation, mesoscale cyclones and/or mesoscale convergence over the East Sea, etc. Each type shows different characteristics in location of snowfall and composition of precipitation (i.e., dry snow, rain, and mixed precipitation). The AT-type snowfall occurs mostly in the west coast, Jeju and Ullung Islands whereas the TE-type snowfall occurs in the East coast especially over the Young Dong area. The ECS-type snowfall occurs mostly over the southern part of the peninsula and some east cost area (sometimes, whole south Korea depending on the location of cyclones). The EC- and COM-type snowfalls occur in wider area, often whole south Korea. Precipitation composition also varies with the type. The AT-type has a snow ratio (SR) higher than the mean value. The TE- and EC-type have SR similar to the mean. The ECS- and COM-type have SR values smaller than the mean. Generally the SR values at high latitude and mountainous areas are higher than those at the other areas. The SR value informs the characteristics of the precipitation composition. An SR value larger than 10 means that all precipitation is composed of snow whereas a zero SR value means that all precipitation is composed of rain.

A Study on the Development of a Simulation Model for Predicting Soil Moisture Content and Scheduling Irrigation (토양수분함량 예측 및 계획관개 모의 모형 개발에 관한 연구(I))

  • 김철회;고재군
    • Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
    • /
    • v.19 no.1
    • /
    • pp.4279-4295
    • /
    • 1977
  • Two types of model were established in order to product the soil moisture content by which information on irrigation could be obtained. Model-I was to represent the soil moisture depletion and was established based on the concept of water balance in a given soil profile. Model-II was a mathematical model derived from the analysis of soil moisture variation curves which were drawn from the observed data. In establishing the Model-I, the method and procedure to estimate parameters for the determination of the variables such as evapotranspirations, effective rainfalls, and drainage amounts were discussed. Empirical equations representing soil moisture variation curves were derived from the observed data as the Model-II. The procedure for forecasting timing and amounts of irrigation under the given soil moisture content was discussed. The established models were checked by comparing the observed data with those predicted by the model. Obtained results are summarized as follows: 1. As a water balance model of a given soil profile, the soil moisture depletion D, could be represented as the equation(2). 2. Among the various empirical formulae for potential evapotranspiration (Etp), Penman's formula was best fit to the data observed with the evaporation pans and tanks in Suweon area. High degree of positive correlation between Penman's predicted data and observed data with a large evaporation pan was confirmed. and the regression enquation was Y=0.7436X+17.2918, where Y represents evaporation rate from large evaporation pan, in mm/10days, and X represents potential evapotranspiration rate estimated by use of Penman's formula. 3. Evapotranspiration, Et, could be estimated from the potential evapotranspiration, Etp, by introducing the consumptive use coefficient, Kc, which was repre sensed by the following relationship: Kc=Kco$.$Ka+Ks‥‥‥(Eq. 6) where Kco : crop coefficient Ka : coefficient depending on the soil moisture content Ks : correction coefficient a. Crop coefficient. Kco. Crop coefficients of barley, bean, and wheat for each growth stage were found to be dependent on the crop. b. Coefficient depending on the soil moisture content, Ka. The values of Ka for clay loam, sandy loam, and loamy sand revealed a similar tendency to those of Pierce type. c. Correction coefficent, Ks. Following relationships were established to estimate Ks values: Ks=Kc-Kco$.$Ka, where Ks=0 if Kc,=Kco$.$K0$\geq$1.0, otherwise Ks=1-Kco$.$Ka 4. Effective rainfall, Re, was estimated by using following relationships : Re=D, if R-D$\geq$0, otherwise, Re=R 5. The difference between rainfall, R, and the soil moisture depletion D, was taken as drainage amount, Wd. {{{{D= SUM from { {i }=1} to n (Et-Re-I+Wd)}}}} if Wd=0, otherwise, {{{{D= SUM from { {i }=tf} to n (Et-Re-I+Wd)}}}} where tf=2∼3 days. 6. The curves and their corresponding empirical equations for the variation of soil moisture depending on the soil types, soil depths are shown on Fig. 8 (a,b.c,d). The general mathematical model on soil moisture variation depending on seasons, weather, and soil types were as follow: {{{{SMC= SUM ( { C}_{i }Exp( { - lambda }_{i } { t}_{i } )+ { Re}_{i } - { Excess}_{i } )}}}} where SMC : soil moisture content C : constant depending on an initial soil moisture content $\lambda$ : constant depending on season t : time Re : effective rainfall Excess : drainage and excess soil moisture other than drainage. The values of $\lambda$ are shown on Table 1. 7. The timing and amount of irrigation could be predicted by the equation (9-a) and (9-b,c), respectively. 8. Under the given conditions, the model for scheduling irrigation was completed. Fig. 9 show computer flow charts of the model. a. To estimate a potential evapotranspiration, Penman's equation was used if a complete observed meteorological data were available, and Jensen-Haise's equation was used if a forecasted meteorological data were available, However none of the observed or forecasted data were available, the equation (15) was used. b. As an input time data, a crop carlender was used, which was made based on the time when the growth stage of the crop shows it's maximum effective leaf coverage. 9. For the purpose of validation of the models, observed data of soil moiture content under various conditions from May, 1975 to July, 1975 were compared to the data predicted by Model-I and Model-II. Model-I shows the relative error of 4.6 to 14.3 percent which is an acceptable range of error in view of engineering purpose. Model-II shows 3 to 16.7 percent of relative error which is a little larger than the one from the Model-I. 10. Comparing two models, the followings are concluded: Model-I established on the theoretical background can predict with a satisfiable reliability far practical use provided that forecasted meteorological data are available. On the other hand, Model-II was superior to Model-I in it's simplicity, but it needs long period and wide scope of observed data to predict acceptable soil moisture content. Further studies are needed on the Model-II to make it acceptable in practical use.

  • PDF

Investigation on Characteristics of High PM2.5 Pollution Occurred during October 2015 in Gwangju (광주 지역에서 2015년 10월에 발생한 PM2.5 고농도 사례 특성 분석)

  • Yu, Geun-Hye;Park, Seung-Shik;Jung, Sun A;Jo, Mi Ra;Lim, Yong Jae;Shin, Hye Jung;Lee, Sang Bo;Ghim, Young Sung
    • Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
    • /
    • v.34 no.4
    • /
    • pp.567-587
    • /
    • 2018
  • A severe haze event occurred in October 2015 in Gwangju, Korea. In this study, the driving chemical species and the formation mechanisms of $PM_{2.5}$ pollution were investigated to better understand the haze event. Hourly concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$, organic and elemental carbon, water-soluble ions, and elemental constituents were measured at the air quality intensive monitoring station in Gwangju. The haze event occurred was attributed to a significant contribution (72.3%) of secondary inorganic species concentration to the $PM_{2.5}$, along with the contribution of organic aerosols that were strongly attributed to traffic emissions over the study site. MODIS images, weather charts, and air mass backward trajectories supported the significant impact of long-range transportation (LTP) of aerosol particles from northeastern China on haze formation over Gwangju in October 2015. The driving factor for the haze formation was stagnant atmospheric flows around the Korean peninsula, and high relative humidity (RH) promoted the haze formation at the site. Under the high RH conditions, $SO{_4}^{2-}$ and $NO_3{^-}$ were mainly produced through the heterogenous aqueous-phase reactions of $SO_2$ and $NO_2$, respectively. Moreover, hourly $O_3$ concentration during the study period was highly elevated, with hourly peaks ranging from 79 to 95ppb, suggesting that photochemical reaction was a possible formation process of secondary aerosols. Over the $PM_{2.5}$ pollution, behavior and formation of secondary ionic species varied with the difference in the impact of LTP. Prior to October 19 when the influence of LTP was low, increasing rate in $NO_3{^-}$ was greater than that in $NO_2$, but both $SO_2$ and $SO{_4}^{2-}$ had similar increasing rates. While, after October 20 when the impact of haze by LTP was significant, $SO{_4}^{2-}$ and $NO_3{^-}$ concentrations increased significantly more than their gaseous precursors, but with greater increasing rate of $NO_3{^-}$. These results suggest the enhanced secondary transformation of $SO_2$ and $NO_2$ during the haze event. Overall, the result from the study suggests that control of anthropogenic combustion sources including vehicle emissions is needed to reduce the high levels of nitrogen oxide and $NO_3{^-}$ and the high $PM_{2.5}$ pollution occurred over fall season in Gwangju.