• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• v.1
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• pp.278-281
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• 2006

Korea Meteorological Administration(KMA) has issued the tropical storm(typhoon) warning or advisories when it was developed to tropical storm from tropical depression and a typhoon is expected to influence the Korean peninsula and adjacent seas. Typhoon information includes current typhoon position and intensity. KMA has used the Dvorak Technique to analyze the center of typhoon and it's intensity by using available geostationary satellites' images such as GMS, GOES-9 and MTSAT-1R since 2001. The Dvorak technique is so subjective that the analysis results could be variable according to analysts. To reduce the subjective errors, QuikSCAT seawind data have been used with various analysis data including sea surface temperature from geostationary meteorological satellites, polar orbit satellites, and other observation data. On the other hand, there is an advantage of using the Subjective Dvorak Technique(SDT). SDT can get information about intensity and center of typhoon by using only infrared images of geostationary meteorology satellites. However, there has been a limitation to use the SDT on operational purpose because of lack of observation and information from polar orbit satellites such as SSM/I. Therefore, KMA has established Advanced Objective Dvorak Technique(AODT) system developed by UW/CIMSS(University of Wisconsin-Madison/Cooperative Institude for Meteorological Satellite Studies) to improve current typhoon analysis technique, and the performance has been tested since 2005. We have developed statistical relationships to correct AODT CI numbers according to the SDT CI numbers that have been presumed as truths of typhoons occurred in northwestern pacific ocean by using linear, nonlinear regressions, and neural network principal component analysis. In conclusion, the neural network nonlinear principal component analysis has fitted best to the SDT, and shown Root Mean Square Error(RMSE) 0.42 and coefficient of determination($R^2$) 0.91 by using MTSAT-1R satellite images of 2005. KMA has operated typhoon intensity analysis using SDT and AODT since 2006 and keep trying to correct CI numbers.

• Atmosphere
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.209-219
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• 2012

Extreme heavy snowfall episodes have been investigated in case of accumulated snowfall amount larger than 50 cm during the past ten years, in order to understand the association of low-level stability with heavy snowfall in the Yeongdong region. In general, the selected 4 events have similar synoptic setting such as the Siberian High extended to East Sea along with the Low passing by the southern Korean Peninsula, eventually inducing easterly in the Yeongdong region. Specifically moist-adiabatically neutral layer has been observed during the heavy snowfall period, which was easily identified using vertical profiles of equivalent potential temperature observed at Sokcho, whereas convective unstable layer has been formed over the East sea due to relatively warm sea surface temperature (SST) about $8{\sim}10^{\circ}C$ and lower temperature around 1~2 km above the surface, obtained from RDAPS. Difference of equivalent potential temperature between 850 hPa and surface as well as difference between air and sea temperatures altogether gradually increased before the snowfall period. Instability-induced moisture supply to the atmosphere from the East sea, being cooled and saturated by the upper cold surge, would make low-level ice cloud, and eventually move inland by the easterly flow. Heavy snowfall will be enhanced in association with low-level convergence by surface friction and upslope wind against Taebaek mountains. This study emphasizes the importance of low level stability in the Yeongdong region using the radiosonde sounding and RDAPS data, which should quantitatively be examined through numerical model as well as heat and moisture supply from the ocean.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.22-24
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• 2007

Waterline extraction is the one of widely used methods for studying changes in tidal flat environment and coastlines using multi-temporal optical images such as Landsat TM and Landsat ETM+. High dynamics of tidal currents and land reclamation which accelerate sedimentation and/or erosion cause waterline change in tidal flats. The amount of sediment deposited or eroded can be evaluated by precisely estimating waterline changes in tidal flats. The objective of this study is to detect the change of waterlines during 17 years and analyze the trends of erosion and sedimentation in the study areas. The Ganghwado tidal flat on the west coast of the Korean Peninsula was selected. The study area is famous for high dynamics of tidal currents and vast tidal flats. Land reclamation which has been carried out on a large scale is also considered as one of elements that have accelerated the environmental changes in this tidal flat. In this study, we acquired 26 waterlines from Landsat TM and Landsat ETM+ images. We extracted the waterline from each satellite image to generate a digital elevation map (DEM) which was used for reference and to compare with the other waterline which was extracted from DEM having a same tide. The result of comparison well depicted the areas of dominant sedimentation and erosion, and general trends of sedimentation and erosion according to sub-regions are also revealed during the investigation time. Results showed that erosion during a decade was dominant at the west of the Southern Ganghwado tidal flat, while sedimentation was dominant at the wide channel between the Southern Ganghwado tidal flat and the Yeongjongdo tidal flat. This area has been commonly affected by high currents and sedimentation energy. Although we were not able to verify the accuracy of the waterline changes, this result clearly showed the waterline change and therefore, the waterline extraction method used in this study has proven as an effective tool for long term tidal change estimation.

• Atmosphere
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.111-130
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• 2010

An uncertainty assessment for precipitation datasets simulated by Atmosphere-Ocean Coupled General Circulation Model (AOGCM) is conducted to provide reliable climate scenario over East Asia. Most of results overestimate precipitation compared to the observational data (wet bias) in spring-fall-winter, while they underestimate precipitation (dry bias) in summer in East Asia. Higher spatial resolution model shows better performances in simulation of precipitation. To assess the uncertainty of spatiotemporal precipitation in East Asia, the cyclostationary empirical orthogonal function (CSEOF) analysis is applied. An annual cycle of precipitation obtained from the CSEOF analysis accounts for the biggest variability in its total variability. A comparison between annual cycles of observed and modeled precipitation anomalies shows distinct differences: 1) positive precipitation anomalies of the multi-model ensemble (MME) for 20 models (thereafter MME20) in summer locate toward the north compared to the observational data so that it cannot explain summer monsoon rainfalls across Korea and Japan. 2) The onset of summer monsoon in MME20 in Korean peninsula starts earlier than observed one. These differences show the uncertainty of modeled precipitation. Also the comparison provides the criteria of annual cycle and correlation between modeled and observational data which helps to select best models and generate a new MME, which is better than the MME20. The spatiotemporal deviation of precipitation is significantly associated with lower-level circulations. In particular, lower-level moisture transports from the warm pool of the western Pacific and corresponding moisture convergence significantly are strongly associated with summer rainfalls. These lower-level circulations physically consistent with precipitation give insight into description of the reason in the monsoon of East Asia why behaviors of individually modeled precipitation differ from that of observation.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.221-235
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• 2011

This study summarizes previous studies on the climate change over Korea. Several studies on climate change in the neighboring countries as well as the entire globe are reviewed. Temperature data obtained from modern observational system show an increasing trend beyond the natural variations. The increasing rate of sea surface temperature (SST) over the ocean basins surrounding Korea is higher than that of the global-mean SST. The large increase in the SST over the oceans surrounding Korea may enhance tropical cyclone activity and heavy rainfall frequency in Korea. In addition, it has been reported that the changes in large scale circulation associated with global climate change influence the spatio-temporal variation of monsoon including Changma in summer and cold surges in winter. Although all researches on the subject were not fully discussed in this study due to short period of preparation, allowed pages, and authors' limited knowledge, we expect that this summarized reviews would be helpful to understand climate changes over Korea and the surrounding regions.

• Maritime Security
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.149-173
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• 2020

While the United States and other Western states are in trouble with COVID-19 crisis, China is continuing its aggressive ocean expansion with its Gray-zone strategy. The Gray-zone strategy, which China uses around the South China Sea, refers to a strategy that promotes a change in international politics by creating an unclear state, neither war or peace. China, which is trying to expand its influence across East Asia, will also try to project a Gray zone strategy on the Korean Peninsula. The possible scenarios are as follows: 1) South Korea is accidentally involved in a dispute in the South China Sea, 2) Military conflicts between South Korea and China is caused by illegal fishing of Chinese boats in Yellow Sea, 3) China tries to interfere with Socotra Rock, 4) Unlikely, but possible in the future that China induce the military conflicts between Korea and Japan on the Dokdo issue. In order to cope with these scenarios, Korea should prepare the following measures from a long-term perspective: the creation of an Asian maritime safety fleet, the integ rated operation of the navy and the coast guard in the framework of the national fleet, and strengthening the conflict control system for China's provocations.

• Atmosphere
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.561-570
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• 2023

In order to improve the predictability of marine high-impacts weather such as typhoon and high waves, the marine observation network is an essential because it could be rapidly changed by strong air-sea interaction. In this regard, the National Institute of Meteorological Sciences, Korea Meteorological Administration (NIMS/KMA) has promoted the Argo float observation program since 2001 to participate in the International Argo program. In this study, current status and future direction of the NIMS/KMA Argo program are presented through the internal meeting and external expert forum. To date, a total of 264 Argo floats have been deployed into the offshore around the Korean Peninsula and the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. The real-time and delayed modes quality control (QC) system of Argo data was developed, and an official regional data assembling center (call-sign 'KM') was run. In 2002, the Argo homepage was established for the systematic management and dissemination of Argo data for domestic and international users. The future goal of the NIMS/KMA Argo program is to improve response to the marine high-impacts weather through a marine environment monitoring and observing system. The promotion strategy for this is divided into four areas: strengthening policy communication, developing observation strategies, promoting utilization research, and activating international cooperation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.1 s.176
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• pp.83-93
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• 2006

The Kita-Yamato Trough is characterized by a SW-NE trending narrow graben between the Yamato Bank and the Kita-Yamato Bank in the central East Sea/Japan Sea (ES/JS). Core 20EEZ-1 was obtained in the flat summit of a small ridge from the southwest Kita-Yamato Trough. The sedimentation was mainly controlled by the supply of hemipelgic sediments and substantial tephras from explosive volcanic eruptions of the Quaternary volcanoes. The aim of this study is to reconstruct the tephrostratigraphy from the marine sediments collected from the Kita-Yamato Trough and to provide the atmosphere and ocean conditions during the explosive volcanic eruptions. According to the detailed tephrostratigraphy and lithofacies records, the core sediments were deposited during the last marine isotope stage (MIS) 7. The core consists of four lithofacies, idetified as, oxidized mud (OM), crudely laminated mud (CLM) and bioturbated mud (BM), interbedded with coarse-grained tephra (TP). The major element geochemistry and stratigraphic positions of seven tephra layers suggest that they originated from the Aira caldera in Kyushu area among the Japanese islands (AT tephra; 29.24 ka), unknown submarine volcano in the south Korea Plateau (SKP-I; MIS 3, SKP-II; MIS 4, SKP-IV; boundary between MIS 6 and MIS 5e, SKP-V; MIS 6, respectively), and the Baegdusan volcano in the Korean Peninsula (B-KY1; ca. 130 ka, B-KY2; ca. 196 ka). The absence of tephras originated trom Ulleung Island in core 20EEZ-l suggest that the tephras had not been transported into the Kita-Yamato Trough by atmosphere conditions during the eruptions. On the other hand, the B-KYI and the B-KY2 tephras derived from the Baegdusan volcano were founded in the Kita-Yamato Trough by a presence of prevailing westerly winds during the eruptions. Furthermore, the SKP tephras were characterized by the transport across the air-water interface, causing quickly thrust of raising eruption plumes from subaqueous explosive eruptions. Surface currents may play an important role in controlling the distribution patterns of the SKP tephras to distal areas. The tephrostratigraphic study in the Kita-Yamato Trough provides the important chronostratigraphic marker horizons and the detailed atmosphere and ocean conditions during the explosive eruptions.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.541-554
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• 2010

Fifteen min-microtremor data sets were collected at 136 sites from a coastal area of Kunsan and 117 sites from an inland area of Jeonju located in SW Korea, and were analyzed for the HVSR (Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio) of the sites. The microtremor spectra of the coastal area have stronger energy in the lower frequency range from 1-6 Hz than those of the coastal area. This result can be attributed to the effect of the waves and tides in the Keum river and the Yellow sea. Twenty four hours of measurement of the microtremor indicated that the microtremor spectrum correlates with the human activities, but the microtremor HVSR peak was observed consistently at the characteristic frequency for the site. The HVSR peaks were grouped into 4 types -"single peak", "double peak", "broad peak" or "no peak"- based on their shapes. More than 90% of the data sets exhibit peak frequencies ($F_0$) which can be easily identified. The distribution of $F_0$ reveals a close relationship with the topography and local geology of the areas, exhibiting high F0s in the hillside areas and low $F_0s$ in the reclaimed land area. While the amplitudes of microtremor HVSR peak frequencies are less than 4 in the downstream of the inland area, those of the recently reclaimed land in the coastal area are extremely high (more than 10). The results of this study indicate that detailed HVSR studies are essential for the earthquake hazard reduction of reclaimed lands.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.321-330
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• 2018

Concentrations of the atmospheric radon and gaseous pollutants were measured at the Gosan site on Jeju Island from 2010 to 2015, in order to observe their time-series variation characteristics and examine the concentration change related to the airflow transport pathways. Based on the realtime monitoring of the atmospheric radon and gaseous pollutants, the daily mean concentrations of radon ($^{222}Rn$) and gaseous pollutants($SO_2$, CO, $O_3$, $NO_x$) were $2,400mBq\;m^{-3}$ and 1.3, 377.6, 41.1, 3.9 ppb, respectively. On monthly variations of radon, the mean concentration in October was the highest as $3,033mBq\;m^{-3}$, almost twice as that in July ($1,452mBq\;m^{-3}$). The diurnal variation of radon concentration shows bimodal curves at early morning (around 7 a.m.) and near midnight, whereas its lowest concentration was recorded at around 3 p.m. Several gaseous pollutants($SO_2$, CO, $NO_x$) showed a similar seasonal variation with radon concentration as high in winter and low in summer, whereas the $O_3$ concentrations had a bit different seasonal trend. According to the cluster back trajectory analysis, the frequencies of airflow pathways moving from continental North China, East China, Japan and the East Sea, the Korean Peninsula, and North Pacific Ocean routes were 36, 37, 10, 13, and 4%, respectively. When the airflow were moved to Jeju Island from continental China, the concentrations of radon and gaseous pollutants were relatively high. On the other hand, when the airflows were moved from North Pacific Ocean and East Sea, their concentrations were much lower than those from continental China.