• Atmosphere
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.93-104
• /
• 2017

The effect of Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A) observations on the short-range forecast in East Asia (EA) was investigated for the Northern Hemispheric (NH) summer and winter months, using the Forecast Sensitivity to Observations (FSO) method. For both periods, the contribution of radiosonde (TEMP) to the EA forecast was largest, followed by AIRCRAFT, AMSU-A, Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI), and the atmospheric motion vector of Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite (COMS) or Multi-functional Transport Satellite (MTSAT). The contribution of AMSU-A sensor was largely originated from the NOAA 19, NOAA 18, and MetOp-A (NOAA 19 and 18) satellites in the NH summer (winter). The contribution of AMSU-A sensor on the MetOp-A (NOAA 18 and 19) satellites was large at 00 and 12 UTC (06 and 18 UTC) analysis times, which was associated with the scanning track of four satellites. The MetOp-A provided the radiance data over the Korea Peninsula in the morning (08:00~11:30 LST), which was important to the morning forecast. In the NH summer, the channel 5 observations on MetOp-A, NOAA 18, 19 along the seaside (along the ridge of the subtropical high) increased (decreased) the forecast error slightly (largely). In the NH winter, the channel 8 observations on NOAA 18 (NOAA 15 and MetOp-A) over the Eastern China (Tibetan Plateau) decreased (increased) the forecast error. The FSO provides useful information on the effect of each AMSU-A sensor on the EA forecasts, which leads guidance to better use of AMSU-A observations for EA regional numerical weather prediction.

• Atmosphere
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.105-118
• /
• 2017

This study assesses the performance of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model in reproducing regional climate over CORDEX-East Asia Phase 2 domain with different cumulus parameterization schemes [Kain-Fritch (KF), Betts-Miller-Janjic (BM), and Grell-Devenyi-Ensemble (GD)]. The model is integrated for 27 months from January 1979 to March 1981 and the initial and boundary conditions are derived from European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast Interim Reanalysis (ERA-Interim). The WRF model reasonably reproduces the temperature and precipitation characteristics over East Asia, but the regional scale responses are very sensitive to cumulus parameterization schemes. In terms of mean bias, WRF model with BM scheme shows the best performance in terms of summer/winter mean precipitation as well as summer mean temperature throughout the North East Asia. In contrast, the seasonal mean precipitation is generally overestimated (underestimated) by KF (GD) scheme. In addition, the seasonal variation of the temperature and precipitation is well simulated by WRF model, but with an overestimation in summer precipitation derived from KF experiment and with an underestimation in wet season precipitation from BM and GD schemes. Also, the frequency distribution of daily precipitation derived from KF and BM experiments (GD experiment) is well reproduced, except for the overestimation (underestimation) in the intensity range above (less) then $2.5mm\;d^{-1}$. In the case of the amount of daily precipitation, all experiments tend to underestimate (overestimate) the amount of daily precipitation in the low-intensity range < $4mm\;d^{-1}$ (high-intensity range > $12mm\;d^{-1}$). This type of error is largest in the KF experiment.

• Atmosphere
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.85-97
• /
• 2018

This study evaluates the performance of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model in reproducing the present-day (1981~2005) precipitation over Far East Asia and South Korea. The WRF model is configured with 25-km horizontal resolution within the context of the COordinated Regional climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) - East Asia Phase 2. The initial and lateral boundary forcing for the WRF simulation are derived from European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast Interim reanalysis. According to our results, WRF model shows a reasonable performance to reproduce the features of precipitation, such as seasonal climatology, annual and inter-annual variabilities, seasonal march of monsoon rainfall and extreme precipitation. In spite of such model's ability to simulate major features of precipitation, systematic biases are found in the downscaled simulation in some sub-regions and seasons. In particular, the WRF model systematically tends to overestimate (underestimate) precipitation over Far East Asia (South Korea), and relatively large biases are evident during the summer season. In terms of inter-annual variability, WRF shows an overall smaller (larger) standard deviation in the Far East Asia (South Korea) compared to observation. In addition, WRF overestimates the frequency and amount of weak precipitation, but underestimates those of heavy precipitation. Also, the number of wet days, the precipitation intensity above the 95 percentile, and consecutive wet days (consecutive dry days) are overestimated (underestimated) over eastern (western) part of South Korea. The results of this study can be used as reference data when providing information about projections of fine-scale climate change over East Asia.

• Atmosphere
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.17-33
• /
• 2011

A dynamical downscaling system for seasonal forecast has been constructed based on a regional climate model, and its predictability was investigated for 10 years' wintertime (December-January-February; DJF) climatology in East Asia. Initial and lateral boundary conditions were obtained from the operational seasonal forecasting data, which are realtime output of the Global Data Assimilation and Prediction System (GDAPS) at Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Sea surface temperature was also obtained from the operational forecasts, i.e., KMA El-Nino and Global Sea Surface Temperature Forecast System. In order to determine the better configuration of the regional climate model for East Asian regions, two sensitivity experiments were carried out for one winter season (97/98 DJF): One is for the topography blending and the other is for the cumulus parameterization scheme. After determining the proper configuration, the predictability of the regional forecasting system was validated with respect to 850 hPa temperature and precipitation. The results showed that mean fields error and other verification statistics were generally decreased compared to GDAPS, most evident in 500 hPa geopotential heights. These improved simulation affected season prediction, and then HSS was better 36% and 11% about 850 hPa temperature and precipitation, respectively.

• Atmosphere
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.223-232
• /
• 2018

The Global-Korean aviation Turbulence Guidance (G-KTG) system is developed using the operational Global Data Assimilation and Prediction System of Korea Meteorological Administration with 17-km horizontal grid spacing. The G-KTG system provides an integrated solution of various clear-air turbulence (CAT) diagnostics and mountain-wave induced turbulence (MWT) diagnostics for low [below 10 kft (3.05 km)], middle [10 kft (3.05 km) - 20 kft (6.10 km)], and upper [20 kft (6.10 km) - 50 kft (15.24 km)] levels. Individual CAT and MWT diagnostics in the G-KTG are converted to a 1/3 power of energy dissipation rate (EDR). 12-h forecast of the G-KTG is evaluated using 6-month period (2016.06~2016.11) of in-situ EDR observation data. The forecast skill is calculated by area under curve (AUC) where the curve is drawn by pairs of probabilities of detection of "yes" for moderate-or-greater-level turbulence events and "no" for null-level turbulence events. The AUCs of G-KTG for the upper, middle, and lower levels are 0.79, 0.69, and 0.63, respectively. Comparison of the upper-level G-KTG with the regional-KTG in East Asia reveals that the forecast skill of the G-KTG (AUC = 0.77) is similar to that of the regional-KTG (AUC = 0.79) using the Regional Data Assimilation and Prediction System with 12-km horizontal grid spacing.

• Atmosphere
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.387-395
• /
• 2008

The impact of horizontal resolution on a regional climate model was investigated by simulating precipitation over the Korean Peninsula. As a regional climate model, the SNURCM(Seoul National University Regional Climate Model) has 21 sigma layers and includes the NCAR CLM(National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Land Model) for land-surface model, the Grell scheme for cumulus convection, the Simple Ice scheme for explicit moisture, and the MRF(Medium-Range Forecast) scheme for PBL(Planetary Boundary Layer) processing. The SNURCM was performed with 20 km resolution for Korea and 60 km resolution for East Asia during a 20-year period (1980-1999). Although the SNURCM systematically underestimated precipitation over the Korean Peninsula, the increase of model resolution simulated more precipitation in the southern region of the Korean Peninsula, and a more accurate distribution of precipitation by reflecting the effect of topography. The increase of precipitation was produced by more detailed terrain data which has a 10 minute terrain in the 20 km resolution model compared to the 30 minute terrain in the 60 km resolution model. The increase in model resolution and more detailed terrain data played an important role in generating more precipitation over the Korean Peninsula. While the high resolution model with the same terrain data resulted in increasing of precipitation over the Korean Peninsula including the adjoining sea, the difference of the terrain data resolution only influenced the precipitation distribution of the mountainous area by increasing the amount of non-convective rain. In conclusion, the regional climate model (SNURCM) with higher resolution simulated more precipitation over the Korean Peninsula by reducing the systematic underestimation of precipitation over the Korean Peninsula.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.197-207
• /
• 2016

This study aims at providing basic data to objectively evaluate the areas suitable for reintroduction of the species of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in order to effectively preserve the Asiatic black bears in the Korean protection areas including national parks, and for the species restoration success. To this end, this study predicted the potential habitats in East Asia, Southeast Asia and India, where there are the records of Asiatic black bears' appearances using the Maxent model and environmental variables related with climate, topography, road and land use. In addition, this study evaluated the effects of the relevant climate and environmental variables. This study also analyzed inhabitation range area suitable for Asiatic black and geographic change according to future climate change. As for the judgment accuracy of the Maxent model widely utilized for habitat distribution research of wildlife for preservation, AUC value was calculated as 0.893 (sd=0.121). This was useful in predicting Asiatic black bears' potential habitat and evaluate the habitat change characteristics according to future climate change. Compare to the distribution map of Asiatic black bears evaluated by IUCN, Habitat suitability by the Maxent model were regionally diverse in extant areas and low in the extinct areas from IUCN map. This can be the result reflecting the regional difference in the environmental conditions where Asiatic black bears inhabit. As for the environment affecting the potential habitat distribution of Asiatic black bears, inhabitation rate was the highest, according to land coverage type, compared to climate, topography and artificial factors like distance from road. Especially, the area of deciduous broadleaf forest was predicted to be preferred, in comparison with other land coverage types. Annual mean precipitation and the precipitation during the driest period were projected to affect more than temperature's annual range, and the inhabitation possibility was higher, as distance was farther from road. The reason is that Asiatic black bears are conjectured to prefer more stable area without human's intervention, as well as prey resource. The inhabitation range was predicted to be expanded gradually to the southern part of India, China's southeast coast and adjacent inland area, and Vietnam, Laos and Malaysia in the eastern coastal areas of Southeast Asia. The following areas are forecast to be the core areas, where Asiatic black bears can inhabit in the Asian region: Jeonnam, Jeonbuk and Gangwon areas in South Korea, Kyushu, Chugoku, Shikoku, Chubu, Kanto and Tohoku's border area in Japan, and Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Fujian border area in China. This study is expected to be used as basic data for the preservation and efficient management of Asiatic black bear's habitat, artificially introduced individual bear's release area selection, and the management of collision zones with humans.