• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.240-258
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• 2019

Typhoons, torrential rainfall, and heavy snowfall cause catastrophic losses each year in the Republic of Korea. Therefore, if we can know the possibility of this phenomenon in advance through regular observations, it will be greatly beneficial to Korean society. Korea is surrounded by sea on its three sides, and the sea surface temperature (SST) directly or indirectly affects the development of typhoons, heavy rainfall, and heavy snowfall. Therefore, the characteristics of SST variability related to the high impact weather are investigated in this paper. The heavy rainfall in Korea was distributed around Seoul, Gyeonggi, and west and southern coast. The heavy snowfall occurred mainly in the eastern coastal (hereafter Youngdong Heavy Snow) and the southwestern region (hereafter Honam-type heavy snow). The SST variability was slightly different depending on the type and major occurrence regions of the high impact weather. When the torrential rain occurred, the SST variability was significantly increased in the regions extending to Jindo-Jeju island-Ieodo-Shanghai in China. When the heavy snow occurred, the SST variability has reduced in the southern sea of Jeju island, regardless of the type of heavy snowfall, whereas the SST variability has increased in the East Sea near $130^{\circ}E$ and $39^{\circ}N$. Areas with high SST variability are anticipated to be used as a basis for studying the atmospheric-oceanic interaction mechanism as well as for determining the background atmospheric aerosol observation area.

• Atmosphere
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.227-241
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• 2016

This study investigated the cause of the heavy snowfall that occurred in the East Coast of Korea from 6 February to 14 February 2014. The synoptic conditions were analyzed using blocking index, equivalent potential temperature, potential vorticity, maritime temperature difference, temperature advection, and ground convergence. During the case period, a large blocking pattern developed over the Western Pacific causing the flow to be stagnant, and there was a North-South oriented High-to-Low pressure system over the Korean Peninsula because of this arrangement. The case period was divided into three parts based on the synoptic forcing that was responsible for the heavy snowfall; detailed analyses were conducted for the first and last period. In the first period, a heavy snowfall occurred over the entire Korean Peninsula due to strong updrafts from baroclinic instability and a low pressure caused by potential vorticity located at the mid-troposphere. In the lower atmosphere, a North-South oriented High-to-Low pressure system over the Eastern Korea intensified the easterly airflow and created a convergence zone near the ground which strengthened the upslope effect of the Taebaek Mountain range with a cumulative fresh snowfall amount of 41 cm in the East Coast region. In the last period, the cold air nestled in the Maritime Province of Siberia and Manchuria strengthened much more than that in the first half and extended to the East Sea. The temperature difference between the 850 hPa air and the SST was large and convective clouds developed over the sea. The highest cumulative fresh snow amount of 39.7 cm was recorded in the coastal area during this period. During the entire period, vertically oriented equivalent potential temperature showed neutral stability layer that helped the cloud formation and development in the East Coast. The 2014 heavy snowfall case over the East Coast provinces of Korea were due to: 1) stagnation of the system by blocking pattern, 2) the dynamic effect of mid-level potential vorticity of 1.6 PVU, 3) the easterly air flow from North-South oriented High-to-Low pressure system, 4) the existence of vertically oriented neutral stable layer, and 5) the expansion of strong cold air into the East Sea which created a large temperature difference between the air and the ocean.

• Atmosphere
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2009

We need water equivalent unit data of snowfall for the purpose of forecast and hydrology related research area. This study developed new method of automatic recording snowfall as weight unit with circle type plate using stain-gauge loadcell. Field test of instrument carried out at Daegwallyeong Obs. Station from 20 to 23 Jan. 2008 during heavy snowfall. There is 74.2cm snow depth and 54.6mm precipitation by Daegwallyeong Obs. Station. But the instrument of this study recorded 71.0mm of precipitation amount. Because of different observation method can cause more 15.4mm than Daegwallyeong Obs. Station. But this study gives the possibility of observation of new snow fall measurement under freezing conditions of snow. From the observation data the density of snowfall calculated from 0.09 to $1015g/cm_3$ from the observation period. And have a good relations between manual observation and automatic observation data from this study instrument with slope of 1.35 to 1.39.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2009

This study was conducted to find out the effects of relationship between ocean-meteorological factors and snowfall at Incheon, Gunsan and Mokpo when cold and dry continental air mass passed through the West Sea of Korea in winter. Mean snowfall from December to February showed the order of Gunsan (12.7 cm), Mokpo (9.0 cm) and Incheon (7.8 cm). In particular, the snowfall in the three regions showed the regional difference in December and February. It was well consistent with the extension of continental high. Extension of continental high can cause effect on snowfall at the west regions (Inchoen, Gunsan, Mokpo) of the Korean Peninsula. The continental high extended from the southern China to western coastal region of the Korean Peninsula in December, it extended from the northern China to central area of the Korean Peninsula in January. It also extended from the north side of China through Bohai Sea and Yodong Peninsula to central area of the Korean Peninsula in February. Therefore, more snowfall recorded in Incheon is higher in February than December whereas Gunsan and Mokpo is the opposite. The heavy snowfall at the three regions was caused by loss of the heat from the ocean to air when the heat loss was higher than 100 $W/m^2$. The heavy snowfall was also observed when the arrangement of continental high atmospheric pressure and low pressure was high at the west and low at the east, which formed a front in West and when the wind blow from the North or North West at the speed of 4${\sim}$8 m/sec.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.83-107
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• 2014

This study presents spatial characteristics of cloud using satellite image in the extreme heavy snowfall of the Yeongdong region. 3 extreme heavy snowfall events in the Yeongdong region during the recent 12 years (2001 ~ 2012) are selected for which the fresh snow cover exceed 50 cm/day. Spatial characteristics (minimum brightness temperature; Tmin, cloud size, center of cloud-cell) of cloud are analyzed by tracking main cloud-cell related with these events. These characteristics are compared with radar precipitation in the Yeongdong region to investigate relationship between cloud and precipitation. The results are summarized as follows, selected extreme heavy snowfall events are associated with the isolated, well-developed, and small-scale convective cloud which is developing over the Yeongdong region or moving from over East Korea Bay to the Yeongdong region. During the period of main precipitation, cloud-cell Tmin is low ($-40{\sim}-50^{\circ}C$) and cloud area is small (17,000 ~ 40,000 $km^2$). Precipitation area (${\geq}$ 0.5 mm/hr) from radar also shows small and isolated shape (4,000 ~ 8,000 $km^2$). The locations of the cloud and precipitation are similar, but in there centers are located closely to the coast of the Yeongdong region. In all events the extreme heavy snowfall occur in the period a developed cloud-cell was moving into the coastal waters of the Yeongdong. However, it was found that developing stage of cloud and precipitation are not well matched each other in one of 3 events. Water vapor image shows that cloud-cell is developed on the northern edge of the dry(dark) region. Therefore, at the result analyzed from cloud and precipitation, selected extreme heavy snowfall events are associated with small-scale secondary cyclone or vortex, not explosive polar low. Detection and tracking small-scale cloud-cell in the real-time forecasting of the Yeongdong extreme heavy snowfall is important.

• Atmosphere
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.33-48
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• 2006

A classification of snowfall type based on development mechanism is proposed using previous snowfall studies, operational experiences, etc. Five types are proposed: snowfall caused by 1) airmass transformation (AT type), 2) terrain effects in a situation of expanding Siberian High (TE type), 3) precipitation systems associated with extratropical cyclones (EC type), 4) indirect effects of extratropical cyclones passing over the sea to the south of the Korean peninsula (ECS type), and 5) combined effects of TE and ECS types (COM type). Snowfall events during 1981-2001 are classified according to the 5 types mentioned above. For this, 118 events, with at least one station with daily snowfall depth greater than 20 cm, are selected. For the classification, synoptic weather charts, satellite images, and precipitation data are used. For TE and COM types, local sea-level pressure chart is also used to confirm the presence of condition for TE type (this is done for events in 1990 and thereafter). The classification shows that 109 out of 118 events can be classified as one of the 5 types. In the remaining 8 events, heavy snowfall occurred only in Ullung Island. Its occurrence may be due to one or more of the following mechanism: airmass transformation, mesoscale cyclones and/or mesoscale convergence over the East Sea, etc. Each type shows different characteristics in location of snowfall and composition of precipitation (i.e., dry snow, rain, and mixed precipitation). The AT-type snowfall occurs mostly in the west coast, Jeju and Ullung Islands whereas the TE-type snowfall occurs in the East coast especially over the Young Dong area. The ECS-type snowfall occurs mostly over the southern part of the peninsula and some east cost area (sometimes, whole south Korea depending on the location of cyclones). The EC- and COM-type snowfalls occur in wider area, often whole south Korea. Precipitation composition also varies with the type. The AT-type has a snow ratio (SR) higher than the mean value. The TE- and EC-type have SR similar to the mean. The ECS- and COM-type have SR values smaller than the mean. Generally the SR values at high latitude and mountainous areas are higher than those at the other areas. The SR value informs the characteristics of the precipitation composition. An SR value larger than 10 means that all precipitation is composed of snow whereas a zero SR value means that all precipitation is composed of rain.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.645-661
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• 2013

The synoptic, thermodynamic, and dynamic characteristics of a heavy snowfall event that occurred in Seoul metropolitan area on 27 to 28 December 2010 was investigated. During this period there was a distinctive case that was identified as a polar low. We analyzed surface and upper level weather charts, snowfall amount, sea surface temperature, satellite imagery, sounding, and the National Center for Environmental Prediction global $1^{\circ}{\times}1^{\circ}$ reanalysis data. The polar low developed in an area where there was strong baroclinicity in the lower level aided by strong conditional instability due to 925 hPa warm air advection and 700 hPa cold air advection. The development mechanism of polar low is due, in part, to the tropopause folding, which advected stratospheric air increasing potential vorticity in mid-level and inducing cyclonic vorticity and convergence in low-level. Eventually clouds developed and there were snowfall total of 10 cm in Seoul metropolitan area and as much as 20 cm in southern parts of Korea. During the snowfall development, there was a $-45^{\circ}C$ cold core at 500 hPa and shortwave maintained $3-5^{\circ}$ separation with surface trough, which favored the development of polar low located in the warm sector and cyclonic advection area. The height of the dynamical tropopause lowered to 700 hPa during the peak development and increase in potential vorticity allowed strong vertical motion to occur. Overall, there was a close relationship between the development of snowfall and tropopause undulation. The heaviest snowfall occurred east of the tropopause folding where strong cyclonic vorticity, vertical motion, and moisture advection all coincided while the polar low was passing through the Korean peninsula.

• Atmosphere
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.187-200
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• 2018

The heavy snowfall phenomenon with thunder and lightning occurred in Yeongdong coastal region on 20 January 2017. Amount of snow on that day was a maximum of 47 cm and was concentrated in a short time (2 hours) at the Yeongdong coastal area. The mechanism of thundersnow was investigated to describe in detail using observational data and numerical simulation (Weather Research and Forecast, WRF) applied lightning option. The results show that a convective cloud occurred at the Yeongdong coastal area. The east wind flow was generated and the pressure gradient force was maximized by the rapidly developed cyclone. The cold and dry air in the upper atmosphere has descended (so called tropopause folding) atmospheric lower layer at precipitation peak time (1200 LST). In addition, latent heat in the lower atmosphere layer and warm sea surface temperature caused thermal instability. The convective cloud caused by the strong thermal instability was developed up to 6 km at that time. And the backdoor cold front was determined by the change characteristics of meteorological elements and shear line in the east sea. Instability indexes such as Total totals Index (TT) and Lightning Potential Index (LPI) are also confirmed as one of good predictability indicates for the explosive precipitation of convective rainfall.

• Proceedings of KOSOMES biannual meeting
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.185-189
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• 2008

This study was conducted to find out the effects of relationship between ocean conditions and snowfall when cold and dry continental air mass passes through the West Sea of Korea. Route of continental high atmospheric pressure can cause effect on snowfall at the west regions (Inchoen, Gunsan, Mokpo) of the Korean Peninsula. The continental high atmospheric pressure extend from the southern China to western coastal region of the Korean Peninsula during the December, and it extend from the north side of China through Bohai Sea and Yodong Peninsula to central area of the Korean Peninsula during the February. Therefore, more snowfall recorded in Incheon is higher during Feb. than Dec.. whereas Gunsan and Mokpo is the opposite. The heavy snowfall at the western coastal region of Korea was caused by loss of the heat from the ocean to air when it's higher than $100W/m^2$. the heavy snowfall was also observed when the arrangement of continental high atmospheric pressure and low pressure was high at the West and low at the East, which formed a front in West and when the wind blow from the North or North West at the speed of $4\sim8m/sec$. There were not much relation between salinity in the western sea and snowfall in the western coastal region of Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.305-316
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• 2015

The GPS signal delays in troposphere, which are along the signal path between a transmitting satellite and GPS permanent station, can be used to retrieve the precipitable water vapor. The GPS remote sensing technique of atmospheric water vapor is capable of monitoring typhoon and detecting long term water vapor for tracking of earth’s climate change. In this study, we analyzed GPS precipitable water vapor variations during the heavy snowstorm event occurred in the Yeongdong area, 2014. The results show that the snowfall event were occurring after the GPS precipitable water vapor were increased, the maximum fresh snow depth was recorded after the maximum GPS precipitable water vapor was generated, in Kangneug and Wuljin, respectively. Also, we analyzed that the closely correlation among the GPS precipitable water vapor, the K-index and total index which was acquired by the upper air observation system during this snowstorm event was revealed.