• Atmosphere
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.235-249
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• 2017

This paper describes methodology verifying near-surface predictability of numerical weather prediction models against the surface synoptic weather station network (SYNOP) observation. As verification variables, temperature, wind, humidity-related variables, total cloud cover, and surface pressure are included in this tool. Quality controlled SYNOP observation through the pre-processing for data assimilation is used. To consider the difference of topographic height between observation and model grid points, vertical inter/extrapolation is applied for temperature, humidity, and surface pressure verification. This verification algorithm is applied for verifying medium-range forecasts by a global forecasting model developed by Korea Institute of Atmospheric Prediction Systems to measure the near-surface predictability of the model and to evaluate the capability of the developed verification tool. It is found that the verification of near-surface prediction against SYNOP observation shows consistency with verification of upper atmosphere against global radiosonde observation, suggesting reliability of those data and demonstrating importance of verification against in-situ measurement as well. Although verifying modeled total cloud cover with observation might have limitation due to the different definition between the model and observation, it is also capable to diagnose the relative bias of model predictability such as a regional reliability and diurnal evolution of the bias.

• Proceedings of The Korean Society of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology Conference
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• 2016.09a
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• pp.25-28
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• 2016

Recently, because of the weather forecasts through the low-resolution data has been limited, the demand of the high-resolution data is sharply increasing. Therefore, in this study, we restore the ultra-high resolution synthetic precipitation and temperature data for 2000-2014 due to small-scale topographic effect using the QPM (Quantitative Precipitation Model)/QTM (Quantitative Temperature Model). First, we reproduce the detailed precipitation and temperature data with 1km resolution using the distribution of Automatic Weather System (AWS) data and Automatic Synoptic Observation System (ASOS) data, which is about 10km resolution with irregular grid over South Korea. Also, we recover the precipitation and temperature data with 1km resolution using the MERRA reanalysis data over North Korea, because there are insufficient observation data. The precipitation and temperature from restored current climate reflect more detailed topographic effect than irregular AWS/ASOS data and MERRA reanalysis data over the Korean peninsula. Based on this analysis, more detailed prospect of regional climate is investigated.

• Atmosphere
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.317-338
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• 2008

Analyses of observational data and numerical simulations were performed to understand the mechanism of MCSs (Mesoscale Convective Systems) occurred on 13-14 July 2004 over Jindo area of the Korean Peninsula. Observations indicated that synoptic environment was favorable for the occurrence of heavy rainfall. This heavy rainfall appeared to have been enhanced by convergence around the Changma front and synoptic scale lifting. From the analyses of storm environment using Haenam upper-air observation data, it was confirmed that strong convective instability was present around the Jindo area. Instability indices such as K-index, SSI-index showed favorable condition for strong convection. In addition, warm advection in the lower troposphere and cold advection in the middle troposphere were detected from wind profiler data. The size of storm, that produced heavy rainfall over Jindo area, was smaller than $50{\times}50km^2$ according to radar observation. The storm developed more than 10 km in height, but high reflectivity (rain rate 30 mm/hr) was limited under 6 km. It can be judged that convection cells, which form cloud clusters, occurred on the inflow area of the Changma front. In numerical simulation, high CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) was found in the southwest of the Korean Peninsula. However, heavy rainfall was restricted to the Jindo area with high CIN (Convective INhibition) and high CAPE. From the observations of vertical drop size distribution from MRR (Micro Rain Radar) and the analyses of numerically simulated hydrometeors such as graupel etc., it can be inferred that melted graupels enhanced collision and coalescence process of heavy precipitation systems.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.827-836
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• 2017

Freezing rain is a phenomenon when precipitation falls as a liquid rain drop, but freezes when it comes into contact with surfaces or objects. In this study, we investigated the predictability of freezing rain and its characteristics, which are strongly related with the occurrence of black ice using synoptic scale meteorological observation data. Two different cases occurred at 2012 were analyzed and in the presented cases, freezing rain often occurs in the low-level low pressure with the warm front. The warm front due to the lower cyclone make suitable environment in which snow falling from the upper layer can change into supercooled water. The $0^{\circ}C$ temperature line to generate supercooling water is located at an altitude of 850 hPa in the vertical temperature distribution. And the ground temperature remained below zero, as is commonly known as a condition for black ice formation. It is confirmed that the formation rate of freezing rain is higher when the thickness after 1000-850 hPa is 1290-1310 m and the thickness of 850-700 hPa layer is larger than 1540 m in both cases. It can also be used to predict and estimate the generation of freezing rain by detecting and analyzing bright bands in radar observation.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2009

Wind energy has been recognized as one of the most important and fastest growing energy resources without emission of air pollutant. Thus, it is necessary to predict wind speed and direction accurately both in time and space toward the efficient usage of wind energy. Numerical simulation experiments using the Fifth-Generation Mesoscale Model (MM5) are carried out to clarify the impact of surface observation data assimilation on the estimation of wind energy resources. The EXP_Radius run was designed with respect to the radius of influence in the Four-Dimensional Data Assimilation (FDDA), and the EXP_Impact run was made by changing the nudging coefficient that determines the relative magnitude of the nudging term. The simulation period covers a clear-sky event on 3 - 5 June 2007 and another is on 2 - 4 December 2006. It is found that the simulated results are very sensitive to the radius of influence and nudging parameters in the FDDA. The further analysis of the results shows that the impact of the radius of influence tends to be stronger in weak synoptic flow episode than that in strong synoptic flows episode. The nudging factor is also sensitive to the intensity of the synoptic flows.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.319-326
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• 2015

Rainfall data is necessary component for water resources design and flood warning system. Most analysis are used long-term hourly data of surface synoptic stations from the Meteorological Administration, Ministry of land, Infrastructure and Transport and others. However, It will be used minutely data of more high density automatic weather stations than surface synoptic stations expecting to increase the frequency of heavy precipitation. But minutely data has a problem about quality of rainfall data by auto observation. This study analyzed about quality control method using automatic weather station's minutely rainfall data of meteorological administration. It was performed assessment of the quality control that was classified quality control of miss Data, outlier data and rainfall interpolation. This method will be utilized when hydrological analysis uses minute rainfall data.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.366-372
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• 2019

The PRISM model has been used to estimate precipitation in South Korea where observation data are readily available at a large number of weather station. However, it is likely that the PRISM model would result in relatively low reliability of precipitation estimates in North Korea where weather data are available at a relatively small number of weather stations. Alternatively, a hybrid method has been developed to estimate the precipitation distribution in area where availability of climate data is relatively low. In the hybrid method, Regression coefficients between the precipitation-terrain relationships are applied to a low-resolution precipitation map produced using the PRISM. In the present study, a hybrid approach was applied to North Korea for estimation of precipitation distribution at a high spatial resolution. At first, the precipitation distribution map was produced at a low-resolution (2,430m) using the PRISM model. Secondly, a deviation map was prepared calculating difference between altitudes of synoptic stations and virtual terrains produced using 270m-resolution digital elevation map (DEM). Lastly, another deviation map of precipitation was obtained from the maps of virtual precipitation produced using observation data from the synoptic weather stations and both synoptic and automated weather station (AWS), respectively. The regression equation between precipitation and terrain was determined using these deviation maps. The high resolution map of precipitation distribution was obtained applying the regression equation to the low-resolution map. It was found that the hybrid approach resulted in better representation of the effects of the terrain. The precipitation distribution map for the hybrid approach had similar spatial pattern to that for the existing method. It was estimated that the mean annual cumulative precipitation of entire territory of North Korea was 1,195mm with a standard deviation of 253mm.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.299-307
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• 2023

Given that toxic substances are diffused by the various movements of the atmosphere, it is very important to evaluate the risks associated with this phenomenon. When analyzing the behavioral characteristics of these atmospheric diffusion models, the main input data are the wind speed and wind direction among the meteorological data. In particular, it is known that a certain wind direction occurs in summer and winter in Korea under the influence of westerlies and monsoons. In this study, synoptic meteorological observation data provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration were analyzed from January 1, 2012 to the end of August of 2022 to understand the regional wind characteristics of nuclear power plants and surrounding areas. The selected target areas consisted of 16 weather stations around the Hanbit, Kori, Wolsong, Hanul, and Saeul nuclear power plants that are currently in operation. The analysis was based on the temperature, wind direction, and wind speed data at those locations. Average, maximum, minimum, median, and mode values were analyzed using long-term annual temperature, wind speed, and wind direction data. Correlation coefficient values were also analyzed to determine the linear relationships among the temperature, wind direction, and wind speed. Among the 16 districts, Uljin had the highest wind speed. The median wind speed values for each region were lower than the average wind speed values. For regions where the average wind speed exceeds the median wind speed, Yeongju, Gochang, Gyeongju, Yeonggwang, and Gimhae were calculated as 0.69 m s^-1, 0.54m s^-1, 0.45m s^-1, 0.4m s^-1, and 0.36m s^-1, respectively. The average temperature in the 16 regions was 13.52 degrees Celsius; the median temperature was 14.31 degrees and the mode temperature was 20.69 degrees. The average regional temperature standard deviation was calculated and found to be 9.83 degrees. The maximum summer temperatures were 39.7, 39.5, and 39.3 in Yeongdeok, Pohang, and Yeongcheon, respectively. The wind directions and speeds in the 16 regions were plotted as a wind rose graph, and the characteristics of the wind direction and speed of each region were investigated. It was found that there is a dominant wind direction correlated with the topographical characteristics in each region. However, the linear relationship between the wind speed and direction by region varied from 0.53 to 0.07. Through this study, by evaluating meteorological observation data on a long-term synoptic scale of ten years, regional characteristics were found.

• Atmosphere
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.187-204
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• 2013

This study analyzed the synoptic distribution and vertical structure about four cases of precipitation occurrences using NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data and upper level data of winter intensive observation to be performed by National Institute of Meteorological Research at Bukgangneung, Incheon, Boseong during 63days from 4 JAN to 6 MAR in 2012, and Observing System Experiment (OSE) using 3DVAR-WRF system was conducted to examine the precipitation predictability of upper level data at western and southern coastal regions. The synoptic characteristics of selected precipitation occurrences were investigated as causes for 1) rainfall events with effect of moisture convergence owing to low pressure passing through south sea on 19 JAN, 2) snowfall events due to moisture inflowing from yellow sea with propagation of Siberian high pressure after low pressure passage over middle northern region on 31 JAN, 3) rainfall event with effect of weak pressure trough in west low and east high pressure system on 25 FEB, 4) rainfall event due to moisture inflow according to low pressures over Bohai bay and south eastern sea on 5 MAR. However, it is identified that vertical structure of atmosphere had different characteristics with heavy rainfall system in summer. Firstly, depth of convection was narrow due to absence of moisture convergence and strong ascending air current in middle layer. Secondly, warm air advection by veering wind with height only existed in low layer. Thirdly, unstable layer was limited in the narrow depth due to low surface temperature although it formed, and also values of instability indices were not high. Fourthly, total water vapor amounts containing into atmosphere was small due to low temperature distribution so that precipitable water vapor could be little amounts. As result of OSE conducting with upper level data of Incheon and Boseong station, 12 hours accumulated precipitation distributions of control experiment and experiments with additional upper level data were similar with ones of observation data at 610 stations. Although Equitable Threat Scores (ETS) were different according to cases and thresholds, it was verified positive influence of upper level data for precipitation predictability as resulting with high improvement rates of 33.3% in experiment with upper level data of Incheon (INC_EXP), 85.7% in experiment with upper level data of Boseong (BOS_EXP), and 142.9% in experiment with upper level data of both Incheon and Boseong (INC_BOS_EXP) about accumulated precipitation more than 5 mm / 12 hours on 31 January 2012.

• Atmosphere
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.185-196
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• 2011

The performance assessment in radiosonde observation on the special observation program (ProbeX-2009) is performed and the characteristics of precipitation using Auto Weather System (AWS) and radiosonde data in 2009 at the Ulleungdo are investigated. The launching time, observation time, and maximum altitude of radiosonde are satisfied with the regulation from Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) but the duration of observational time of radiosonde is much shorter than that of the ProbeX-2007 because the altitude of launching site is higher than others in 2007. From the analysis of trajectories of radiosonde, most radiosondes at the Ulleungdo tend to move into the east because the westerly prevail at the middle latitude. However, when the Okhotsk high is expanded to the Korean peninsula and the north-westerly winds strengthen over the East Sea as the subtropical high is retreated, radiosonde tends to move into the south-west and south-east, respectively. Maximum distance appears at the end of observation level before May but the level of maximum distance is changed into 100 hPa after June because the prevailing wind direction is reversed from westerly to easterly at the stratosphere during summer time. The condition of precipitation was more correlated with the dynamic instability except Changma season. Precipitation in 2009 at the Ulleungdo occurred under the marine climate so that total precipitation amounts and precipitation intensity were increased and intensified during nighttime. The local environment favorable for the precipitation during nighttime was while the wind speed at the surface and the inflow from the shoreline were strengthened. Precipitation events also affected by synoptic condition but the localized effect induced by topography was more strengthened at the northern part of Ulleungdo.