• Atmosphere
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.257-271
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• 2011

The aim of this study is to examine weather modification by urbanization and human activities. The characteristics of the urban heat island (UHI) and precipitation in Seoul metropolitan area of Korea are investigated to demonstrate that cities can change or modify local and nearby weather and climate, and to confirm that cities can initiate convection, change the behavior of convective precipitation, and enhance downstream precipitation. The data used in this study are surface meteorological station data observed in Seoul and its nearby 5 cities for the period of 1960 to 2009, and 162 Automatic Weather System stations data observed in the Seoul metropolitan area from 1998 to 2009. Air temperature and precipitation amount tend to increase with time, and relative humidity decreases because of urbanization. Similar to previous studies for other cities, the average maximum UHI is weakest in summer and is strong in autumn and winter, and the maximum UHI intensity is more frequently observed in the nighttime than in the daytime, decreases with increasing wind speed, and is enhanced for clear skies. Relatively warm regions extend in the east-west direction and relatively cold regions are located near the northern and southern mountains inside Seoul. The satellite cities in the outskirts of Seoul have been rapidly built up in recent years, thus exhibiting increases in near-surface air temperature. The yearly precipitation amount during the last 50 years is increased with time but rainy days are decreased. The heavy rainfall events of more than $20mm\;hr^{-1}$ increases with time. The substantial changes observed in precipitation in Seoul seem to be linked with the accelerated increase in the urban sprawl in recent decades which in turn has induced an intensification of the UHI effect and enhanced downstream precipitation. We also found that the frequency of intense rain showers has increased in Seoul metropolitan area.

• Atmosphere
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.577-598
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• 2016

Observational and numerical studies have been carried out to understand the cause and development processes of the heavy rainfall over the middle Korean Peninsula during 0300 LST-1500 LST 29 June 2011 (LST = UTC + 0900). The heavy rainfall event occurred as the synoptic-scale ridge extended from Western Pacific Subtropical High (WPSH) was maintained over East Asia. Observational analysis indicates that the heavy rainfall is mainly due to scattered convective systems, formed over the Yellow Sea, traveling northeastward across the middle peninsula without further organization into larger systems during 0300 LST-0800 LST, and mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) over the Yellow Sea, transformed into a squall line, traveling eastward during 0800 LST-1500 LST. Organization of convective systems into MCSs can be found over the area of mesoscale trough and convergence zone in the northern end of the low-level jet (LLJ) after 0600 LST. Both observational and numerical investigations indicate that a strong LLJ extended from the East China Sea to the Yellow Sea plays an essential role for the occurrence of heavy rainfall. The strong LLJ develops in between the WPSH and a pressure trough over eastern China. Numerical experiments indicate that the land-sea contrast of solar heating of surface and latent heating due to convective developments are the major factors for the development of the pressure trough in eastern China. Numerical study has also revealed that the mountainous terrain including the mountain complex in the northern Korean Peninsula contributes to the increase of rainfall amount in the middle part of the peninsula.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.540-556
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• 2023

This study analyzed rawinsonde soundings observed during the summer and early fall seasons (June, July, August and September) on the Korean peninsula to examine the utility of the Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) and Convective Inhibition (CIN) in predicting the occurrence of deep moist convection and precipitation. Rawinsonde soundings are categorized into two groups based on thermodynamic criteria: high CAPE and low CIN represent a high potential for deep moist convection; low CAPE and high CIN indicate conditions unfavorable for deep convection. A statistical hypothesis test is conducted to determine whether the two groups are significantly different in terms of 12-hour cumulative precipitation, 12-hour mean cloud base, and 12-hour mean mid-level cloud cover. The results, in the case of no-precipitation, reveal statistically significant differences between the two groups, except for the 12-hour mean cloud base during the 21:01-09:00 KST time period. This suggests that the group characterized by high CAPE and low CIN is more conducive to the occurrence of deep moist convection and precipitation than the group with low CAPE and high CIN.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.163-170
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• 2003

In this study, paying much attention to notable features obtained from spatial distributions of strongly related indices (precipitable water, convergence of air, convective available potential energy) with precipitation, fatal problems in selecting strongly related indices with observed precipitation in a BAIU season were discussed. These results showed spatial distribution of a predicted index provided alternative and physically consistent interpretation for selecting dominant index for heavy rainfall even if the predicted index did not correlate with observed rainfall at a specific observational point as confirmed by the features of CONV (Convergence) or even if it correlated with observed rainfall as confirmed by those of PW (Precipitable Water). Therefore, dominant meteorological indices of heavy rainfall should be selected according to physically evidenced interpretation on features of spatial distributions of indices, and physically and statistically consistent relationship should be built up.

• Atmosphere
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.435-453
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• 2007

KEOP (Korea Enhanced Observing Period)-2004 intensive summer observation was carried out from 20 June to 5 July 2004 over the Southwestern part of the Korean peninsula. In this study, the effects of KEOP-2004 intensive observation data on the simulation of precipitation system are investigated using KLAPS (Korea Local Analysis and Prediction System) and PSU/NCAR MM5. Three precipitation cases during the intensive observation are selected for detailed analysis. In addition to the control experiments using the traditional data for its initial and boundary conditions, two sensitivity experiments using KEOP data with and without Jindo radar are performed. Although it is hard to find a clear and consistent improvement in the verification score (threat score), it is found that the KEOP data play a role in improving the position and intensity of the simulated precipitation system. The experiments started at 00 and 12 UTC show more positive effect than those of 06 and 18 UTC. The effect of Jindo radar is dependent on the case. It plays a significant role in the heavy rain cases related to a mesoscale low over Changma front and the landing of a Typhoon. KEOP data produce more strong difference in the 06/18 UTC experiments than in 00/12 UTC, but give more positive effects in 00/12 UTC experiments. One of the possible explanations for this is that : KEOP data could properly correct the atmosphere around them when there are certain amounts of data, while gives excessive effect to the atmospheric field when there are few data. CRA analysis supports this reasoning. According to the CRA (Contiguous Rain Area) analysis, KEOP data in 00/12 UTC experiments improve only the surrounding area, resulting in essentially same precipitation system so the effects remain only in each convective cell rather than the system itself. On the other hand, KEOP data modify the precipitation system itself in 06/18 UTC experiments. Therefore the effects become amplified with time integration.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.324-336
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• 2008

This paper examines the recent changes of summer precipitation in the aspect of temporal and spatial features using long-term($1958{\sim}2007$) observed station data over South Korea. tong-term mean summer precipitation has revealed two precipitation peaks during summer(June to September); one is the Changma as the first peak, and the other is the post-Changma as the second peak. During the Changma period, the spatial distribution of the maximum precipitation areas is determined by the prevailing southwesterlies and the quasi-stationary front, which results in large amount of precipitation at the windward side of mountain regions over South Korea. However during the post-Changma period, the spatial distribution of the maximum precipitation areas is determined by the lower tropospheric circulation flows from the west and the southeast around the Korean peninsula, and the weather phenomena such as Typhoons, convective instability, and cyclones which are originated from the Yangtze river. The larger amount of precipitation is founded on the southern coastal region and mountain and coastal areas in Korea during the second peak. Time series of total summer precipitation shows a steady increase and the increasing trend is more obvious during the recent 10 years. Decadal variation in summer precipitation indicates a large increase of precipitation, especially in the recent 10 years both in the Changma and the post-Changma period. However, the magnitude of change and the period of the maximum peak presents remarkable contrasts among stations. The most distinct decadal change occurs at Seoul, Busan, and Gangnueng. The precipitation amount is increasing significantly during the post-Changma period at Gangnueng, while the precipitation increases in the period between two maximum precipitation peaks during summer at Seoul and Busan.

• Atmosphere
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.393-405
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• 2007

Simulation results of WRF for the case of typhoon 'Rusa' were analyzed, comparing with observed data especially forjavascript:confirm_mark('abe', '1'); the Gangneung area around to examine its ability in numerical simulation. From the hourly precipitation time series, two peaks were found at Gangneung and Daegwallyeong, while only one peak was found from those of inland regions else. Especially, for the Yeongdong region, the first peak was directly related to spiral bands generated in front of the typhoon. Convective cells that were developed within the spiral bands moved to the eastern coastal area from the sea so that local heavy rainfall occurred in the Yeongdong region. The second peak was mainly related to the accompanying rain band of typhoon itself, topographic effect and the convergence near Gangneung area. Precipitation in Gangneung was simulated as much as about 30% of observed one. The main reason of this result came from a poor representation of wind directions in Gangneung area of WRF model. Observed wind direction was northwesterly but simulated one was nearly easterly in the area. This might shift a local heavy rainfall area downstream to the mountain area rather than the coastal area.

• Atmosphere
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.321-336
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• 2016

Damages caused by torrential rain occur every year in Korea and summer time convection can cause strong thunderstorms to develop which bring dangerous weather such as torrential rain, gusts, and flash flooding. On 6 August 2013 a sudden torrential rain concentrated over the inland of Southern Korean Peninsula occurred. This was an event characterized as a mesoscale multicellular convection. The purpose of this study is to analyze the conditions of the multicellular convection and the synoptic and mesoscale nature of the system development. To this end, dynamical and thermodynamic analyses of surface and upper-level weather charts, satellite images, soundings, reanalysis data and WRF model simulations are performed. At the beginning stage there was a cool, dry air intrusion in the upper-level of the Korean Peninsula, and a warm humid air flow from the southwest in the lower-level creating atmospheric instability. This produced a single cell cumulonimbus cloud in the vicinity of Baengnyeongdo, and due to baroclinic instability, shear and cyclonic vorticity the cloud further developed into a multicellular convection. The cloud system moved southeast towards Seoul metropolitan area accompanied by lightning, heavy precipitation and strong wind gusts. In addition, atmospheric instability due to daytime insolation caused new convective cells to develop in the upstream part of the Sobaek Mountain which merged with existing multicellular convection creating a larger system. This case was unusual because the system was affected little by the upper-level jet stream which is typical in Korea. The development and propagation of the multicellular convection showed strong mesoscale characteristics and was not governed by large synoptic-scale dynamics. In particular, the system moved southeast crossing the Peninsula diagonally from northwest to southeast and did not follow the upper-level westerly pattern. The analysis result shows that the movement of the system can be determined by the vertical wind shear.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2003

The preliminary results of the study on the physics of rain using disdrometer data are shown for an area located on the northern coastal board of Macei${\acute{o}}$, Alagoas (9$^{\circ}$33'17.24' and 35$^{\circ}$46'54.84' W), at approximately 80 meters above the sea level. The data were obtained during January 2002 using a disdrometer RD-69 (Joss-Waldvogel). After definining the criteria for determining rain type (convective and stratiform), a set of Z-R pairs was analyzed for estimating the Z-R relation for each rain type. The results were quite similar to those for other regions of the globe. This preliminary analysis will be used to study the structure of rain with the meteorological radar as well as to permit a better understanding of the physics of tropical rain.

• Atmosphere
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 2014

This study investigates the characteristics of the Gross Moist Stability (GMS) over the tropics. The GMS summarizes the relationship between large-scale entropy forcing due to radiation and surface fluxes and the response of smaller-scale convection. The GMS is able to explain both to where moist entropy is advected by the atmospheric circulation and how deep the moisture flux convergence is in the tropical region. In the deep convective region, positive GMS appears over the warm pool region due to the strong column-integrated moisture convergence and the ensuing export of moist entropy to the environment. The vertical advection of moist entropy dominates over the horizontal advection in this region. Meanwhile, over the eastern tropical ITCZ region, which is characterized by shallow convective area, import of moist entropy by horizontal winds is dominant compared to the vertical moist entropy advection. Future changes in the GMS are also examined using the 22 CMIP5 model simulations. A decrease in the GMS appears widely across the tropics, but its increase occurs over the western-central equatorial Pacific. It is evident that the increased GMS region corresponds to an increased region of precipitation, implying that strengthened convection in the future due to increased entropy forcing exports the enhanced moist energy to stabilize the environment.