• Atmosphere
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.441-456
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• 2023

The mobile observation method, in which a meteorological drone observes while ascending, can observe the vertical profile of wind at 1 m-interval. In addition, since continuous flights are possible at time intervals of less than 30 minutes, high-resolution observation data can be obtained both spatially and temporally. In this study, we verify the accuracy of mobile observation data from meteorological drone (drone) and fill the spatio-temporal observation gaps in the lower atmosphere. To verify the accuracy of mobile observation data observed by drone, it was compared with rawinsonde observation data. The correlation coefficients between two equipment for a wind speed and direction were 0.89 and 0.91, and the root mean square errors were 0.7 m s^-1 and 20.93°. Therefore, it was judged that the drone was suitable for observing vertical profile of the wind using mobile observation method. In addition, we attempted to resolve the observation gaps in the lower atmosphere. First, the vertical observation gaps of the wind profiler between the ground and the 150 m altitude could be resolved by wind observation data using the drone. Secondly, the temporal observation gaps between 3-hour interval in the rawinsonde was resolved through a drone observation case conducted in Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do on October 13, 2022. In this case, the drone mobile observation data every 30-minute intervals could observe the low-level jet more detail than the rawinsonde observation data. These results show that the mobile observation data of the drone can be used to fill the spatio-temporal observation gaps in the lower atmosphere.

• Atmosphere
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.169-181
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• 2020

We conducted a study on the impact of observation station density; this was done in order to enable the accurate estimation of spatial meteorological variables. The purpose of this study is to help operate an efficient observation network by examining distributions of temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed in a test area of a three-dimensional meteorological observation project in the Yeongdong region in 2019. For our analysis, we grouped the observation stations as follows: 41 stations (for Step 4), 34 stations (for Step 3), 17 stations (for Step 2), and 10 stations (for Step 1). Grid values were interpolated using the kriging method. We compared the spatial accuracy of the estimated meteorological grid by using station density. The effect of increased observation network density varied and was dependent on meteorological variables and weather conditions. The temperature is sufficient for the current weather observation network (featuring an average distance about 9.30 km between stations), and the relative humidity is sufficient when the average distance between stations is about 5.04 km. However, it is recommended that all observation networks, with an average distance of approximately 4.59 km between stations, be utilized for monitoring wind speed. In addition, this also enables the operation of an effective observation network through the classification of outliers.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• v.1
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• pp.228-231
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• 2006

In this paper, requirements of Meteorological Administration about Meteorological Imager (MI) of Communications, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite (COMS) is analyzed for the design of COMS ground station and according to the analysis results, the distribution image size of each observation area suitable for satellite Field Of View (FOV) stated at the requirements of meteorological administration is determined and the precise satellite FOV and the size of distribution image is calculated on the basis of the image size of the determined observation area. The results in this paper were applied to the detailed design for COMS ground station and also are expected to be used for the future observation scheduling and the scheduling of distribution of user data.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.337-349
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• 2013

Communication Ocean Meteorological Satellite (COMS) for the hybrid mission of meteorological observation, ocean monitoring, and telecommunication service was launched onto Geostationary Earth Orbit on June 27, 2010 and it is currently under normal operation service on $128.2^{\circ}$ East of the geostationary orbit since April 2011. In order to perform the three missions, the COMS has 3 separate payloads, the meteorological imager (MI), the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI), and the Ka-band antenna. The MI and GOCI perform the Earth observation mission of meteorological observation and ocean monitoring, respectively. For this Earth observation mission the COMS requires daily mission commands from the satellite control ground station and daily mission is affected by the satellite control activities. For this reason daily mission planning is required. The Earth observation mission operation of COMS is described in aspects of mission operation characteristics and mission planning for the normal operation services of meteorological observation and ocean monitoring. And the first one-year normal operation results after the In-Orbit-Test (IOT) are investigated through statistical approach to provide the achieved COMS normal operation status for the Earth observation mission.

• Atmosphere
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.33-47
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• 2023

In this study, for the application of observation errors to the Korean Integrated Model (KIM) to utilize the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere & Climate-2 (COSMIC-2) new satellites, the observation errors were diagnosed based on the Desroziers method using the cost function in the process of variational data assimilation. We calculated observation errors for all observational species being utilized for KIM and compared with their relative values. The observation error of the calculated the Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation (GNSS RO) was about six times smaller than that of other satellites. In order to balance with other satellites, we conducted two experiments in which the GNSS RO data expanded by about twice the observation error. The performance of the analysis field was significantly improved in the tropics, where the COSMIC-2 data are more available, and in the Southern Hemisphere, where the influence of GNSS RO data is significantly greater. In particular, the prediction performance of the Southern Hemisphere was improved by doubling the observation error in global region, rather than doubling the COSMIC-2 data only in areas with high density, which seems to have been balanced with other observations.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.382-385
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• 2004

Communication Ocean Meteorological Satellite (COMS) for the hybrid mission of meteorological observation, ocean monitoring, and telecommunication service is planned to be launched onto Geostationary Earth Orbit in 2008 according to the Korea national space program. A feasibility study on the solar constraint in the operation of the COMS meteorological imager (MI) is performed using the GOES imager hardware operation characteristics. The Earth observation areas of the MI are introduced and the observation time of the MI observation area is calculated. The sun light can enter into the MI optical system around the local midnight and impinge on the performance of the MI. The solar eclipse viewed from the satellite occurs near local midnight around the equinox. This study discusses the restriction of imaging operation time that should be considered in order to avoid the solar intrusion about local midnight and to keep acceptable image quality for the MI observation areas. This study could be useful to build the operation concept of the MI during the development of the MI.

• 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.

• Atmosphere
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.439-450
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• 2019

Present weather plays an important role not only for atmospheric sciences but also for public welfare and road safety. While the widely used state-of-the-art visibility and present weather sensor yields present weather, a single type of measurement is far from perfect to replace long history of human-eye based observation. Truly automatic present weather observation enables us to increase spatial resolution by an order of magnitude with existing facilities in Korea. 8 years of human-eyed present weather records in 19 sites over Korea are compared with visibility sensors and auxiliary measurements, such as humidity of AWS. As clear condition agrees with high probability, next best categories follow fog, rain, snow, mist, haze and drizzle in comparison with human-eyed observation. Fog, mist and haze are often confused due to nature of machine sensing visibility. Such ambiguous weather conditions are improved with empirically induced criteria in combination with visibility and humidity. Differences between instrument manufacturers are also found indicating nonstandard present weather decision. Analysis shows manufacturer dependent present weather differences are induced by manufacturer's own algorithms, not by visibility measurement. Accuracies of present weather for haze, mist, and fog are all improved by 61.5%, 44.9%, and 26.9% respectively. The result shows that automatic present weather sensing is feasible for operational purpose with minimal human interactions if appropriate algorithm is applied. Further study is ongoing for impact of different sensing types between manufacturers for both visibility and present weather data.

• Atmosphere
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.101-108
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• 2007

To observe and analyze the cloud and fog characteristics, the METeorological Research Institute (METRI) has established the Cloud Physics Observation System (CPOS) by implementing the cloud observation instruments: Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (FSSP), PARticle SIze and VELocity (PARSIVEL), Microwave Radiometer (MWR), Micro Rain Radar (MRR), and 3D-AWS at the Daegwallyeong Enhanced Mountain Weather Observation Center. The cloud-related products of CPOS and the validation status for the size distribution of FSSP, the precipitable water of MWR, and the rainfall rate of MRR and PARSIVEL are described.

• Atmosphere
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.359-370
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• 2017

In this study, the oceanic Total Precipitable Water (TPW) retrieval algorithm at 16 km altitude of High Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (HALE UAV) is described. Empirical equation based on Wentz method (1995) that uses the 18.7 and 22.235 GHz channels is developed using the simulated brightness temperature and SeeBor training dataset. To do radiative simulation, Satellite Data Simulator Unit (SDSU) Radiative Transfer Model (RTM) is used. The data of 60% (523) and 40% (349) in the SeeBor training dataset are used to develop and validate the TPW retrieval algorithm, respectively. The range of coefficients for the TPW retrieval at the altitude of 3~18 km with 3 km interval were 153.69~199.87 (${\alpha}$), 54.330~58.468 (${\beta}$), and 84.519~93.484 (${\gamma}$). The bias and RMSE at each altitude were found to be about $-0.81kg\;m^{-2}$ and $2.17kg\;m^{-2}$, respectively. Correlation coefficients were more than 0.9. Radiosonde observation has been generally operated over land. To validate the accuracy of the oceanic TPW retrieval algorithm, observation data from the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) Gisang 1 research vessel about six clear sky cases representing spring, autumn, and summer season is used. Difference between retrieved and observed TPW at 16 km altitude were in the range of $0.53{\sim}1.87kg\;m^{-2}$, which is reasonable for most applications. Difference in TPW between retrieval and observation at each altitude (3~15 km) is also presented. Differences of TPW at altitudes more than 6 km were $0.3{\sim}1.9kg\;m^{-2}$. Retrieved TPW at 3 km altitude was smaller than upper level with a difference of $-0.25{\sim}0.75kg\;m^{-2}$ compared to the observed TPW.