• Environmental Sciences Bulletin of The Korean Environmental Sciences Society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2000

In order to understand the wintertime intermittent characteristics of the trans-boundary air pollutant transport observed in East Asia, a numerical simulation of the long-range transport of pollutants was applied using an atmospheric transport model(STEM-II). The numerical simulation was carried out for the entire month of January 1997 and specific atmospheric aerosol (including sulfate, nitrate, and other ion compounds0 observation data were compared from four observation sites(Cheju Island, Kanghwa Island, Dazaifu, and Fukue Island). The observation data revealed that concentration peaks were intermittently observed at 3 to 4-day intervals plus the four observation sites exhibited a very similar spatial variation. The horizontal and spatial scale of the heavily polluted air masses was analyzed based on numerical results. The mechanism of the intermittent transport of air pollutants was clearly explained by a comparison of the observed data with the numerical output. It was found that the wind pattern variations associated with the synoptic scale pressure system changes play an extremely important role in the transport of pollutants in this region.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.1-21
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• 2015

The present study aims to characterize the synoptic climatic patterns of winter extreme low temperature events occurred in different regions of Korea based on daily temperature data observed at 61 weather stations under the supervision of the Korea Meteorological Administation and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis I data for the recent 40 years (1973~2012) period. Analyses of daily maximum and minimum temperatures below 10th percentile thresholds show that high frequencies of winter extreme low temperature events appear across the entire regions of Korea or in either the western or eastern half region divided by major mountain ridges at the 2~7 dayintervals particularly in the first half of the winter period (before mid-January). Composite analyses of surface synoptic climatic data including sea level pressure and wind vector reveal that 13 regional types of winter extreme low temperature events in Korea are closely associated with the relative location and intensity of both the Siberian high pressure and the Aleutian low pressure systems as well as major mountain ridges. Investigations of mid-troposphere (500 hPa) synoptic climatic charts demonstrate that the blocking-like upper troposphere low pressure system advecting the cold air from the Arctic toward the Korean Peninsula may provide favorable synoptic conditions for the outbreaks of winter extreme low temperature events in Korea. These results indicate that the monitoring of synoptic scale climatic systems in East Asia including the Siberian high pressure system, the Aleutian low pressure system and upper level blocking system is critical to the improvement of the predictability of winter extreme low temperature events in Korea.

• Atmosphere
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.577-598
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• 2016

Observational and numerical studies have been carried out to understand the cause and development processes of the heavy rainfall over the middle Korean Peninsula during 0300 LST-1500 LST 29 June 2011 (LST = UTC + 0900). The heavy rainfall event occurred as the synoptic-scale ridge extended from Western Pacific Subtropical High (WPSH) was maintained over East Asia. Observational analysis indicates that the heavy rainfall is mainly due to scattered convective systems, formed over the Yellow Sea, traveling northeastward across the middle peninsula without further organization into larger systems during 0300 LST-0800 LST, and mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) over the Yellow Sea, transformed into a squall line, traveling eastward during 0800 LST-1500 LST. Organization of convective systems into MCSs can be found over the area of mesoscale trough and convergence zone in the northern end of the low-level jet (LLJ) after 0600 LST. Both observational and numerical investigations indicate that a strong LLJ extended from the East China Sea to the Yellow Sea plays an essential role for the occurrence of heavy rainfall. The strong LLJ develops in between the WPSH and a pressure trough over eastern China. Numerical experiments indicate that the land-sea contrast of solar heating of surface and latent heating due to convective developments are the major factors for the development of the pressure trough in eastern China. Numerical study has also revealed that the mountainous terrain including the mountain complex in the northern Korean Peninsula contributes to the increase of rainfall amount in the middle part of the peninsula.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.701-714
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• 2008

This study examines the prevailing synoptic-scale mechanisms favorable for long-lived summer Persistent Positive Temperature Anomalies (PPTAs) as well as winter PPTAs in the United States. Such long-lived PPTAs usually occur in the south-central region of the United States in summer, but in the southwestern part of the United States in winter. Composite analyses of surface and pressure level data demonstrate that the formation of both winter and summer PPTAs is closely related to the movement of subtropical high pressure systems in the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, respectively. The occurrence of long-lived summer PPTAs usually coincides with an extremely stable atmospheric condition caused by persistent blocking by mid- to upper-tropospheric anticyclones. Significant surface forcing is also easily identified through relatively high Bowen ratios at the surface. Warm air advection is, however, weak and appears to be an insignificant element in the formation of long-lived summer PPTAs. On the other hand, synergistic warming effects associated with adiabatic heating under an anticyclonic blocking system as well as significant warm air advection characterize the favorable synoptic environments for long-lived winter PPTAs. However, the impact of surface forcing mechanisms on winter PPTAs is insignificant.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.335-348
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• 1998

The intensive meteorological observations including pibal balloon at Ungcheon, airsonde and 10m meteorological tower observations at Gulup-Do, where are located In the western coastal region, are taken to Investigate the characteristics of the upper and lower atmospheric structure and the local circulation pattern during the period of 17 to 22 September 1996. The diurnal variations of weather elements(i.e. air temperature, humidity, pressure, and Und speeds at Gulup-Do are analyzed and discussed with those at four inland meteorological stations. The vertical profiles of wind vector, ortho- gonality(Ω), and shear obtained from the pibal obsenrations are also presented to examine the change of wand structure according to the synoptic-scale pressure system's movement. The diurnal temperature changes at Gulup-Do are more sensitive than that of Inland meteorological stations In case of the mow of southwesterlies but are not dominant due to the ocean effect under the Influence of relatively cold northerlies. A well defined mixed layer Is developed from the 500m to the maximum 1700m with a significant capping Inversion layer on the top of it. It can be found from the vertical profiles of wind vector that the wind become generally strong at the interface heights between cloud lay- ers and non-cloud layers. The maximum Und shear Is appeared at the bel각t where the varlauon of wand direction Induced by the passage of synoptic-scale pressure system Is accompanied with the In- crease of Und speed. Based on the wind orthogonality, the change of wind direction with height is more complicated In cloudy day than In clear day. In case of a fair weather, the change of wand direction is showed to be at around 2km.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.503-514
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• 2004

In Seoul metropolitan area, nocturnal variation of surface ozone concentrations observed at 27 monitoring sites from 1998 to 2002 showed that high ozone levels occurred frequently during the spring. Frequency distributions for nighttime ozone indicated that elevated concentrations in spring were influenced by advection of different air mass compared to other seasons. Surface wind analysis during the spring revealed that relatively strong southwesterly winds were associated with nocturnal ozone enhancement, which can be attributed to the regional transport of ozone. In order to identify the origin of nocturnal ozone enhancement in spring, 3-day backward trajectories were calculated by HYSPLIT 4 for the episode days and then classified. The results showed that NW, W, and SW flows, indicating influence of polluted air masses from the China continent, have 51% in a]1 the episode days, which suggest that the nocturnal ozone enhancement can occur under the effect of long-range transport of ozone-laden air mass on a regional scale. Case study of nocturnal ozone maxima associated with long-range transport was discussed in more detail in the light of meteorological conditions. Southwesterly synoptic flow along the outer edge of moving high-pressure system was found to be the important cause of nocturnal ozone maxima in Seoul. This flow could lead to be long-range transport of ozone that had effectively accumulated in the stagnating portion of the system located eastern coast of China. Low atmosphere soundings, backward trajectories, and elevated ozone and CO levels at the back-ground tiles gave evidence for regional effects on nocturnal ozone enhancement In Seoul.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2011

In order to investigate the effects of local and synoptic meteorological conditions on urban scale particulate air pollutants observed over the Busan coastal area, power spectrum analysis was applied to observed particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter $\leq10\;{\mu}m$ ($PM_{10}$) for the period from 1 October, 1993 to 31 December, 2004. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis was used to obtain the hourly mean observed $PM_{10}$ concentrations to identify different periodicity scales of $PM_{10}$ concentrations. The results showed that, aside from the typical and well-known periodicities such as diurnal and annual variations caused by anthropogenic influences, three other significant power spectral density peaks were identified: 7-day, 21-day and 2.25-year periodicities. Cospectrum analysis indicated that the seven-day variations were closely related to the synoptic meteorological conditions such as weak wind speed, which are relevant to the stagnant high pressure system slowly passing through the Korean Peninsula. The intra-seasonal 21-day variation was negatively correlated with wind speed but was consistently positively correlated with relative humidity, which is related to aerosol formation that can be achieved as a result of the hygroscopic characteristics of aerosols. However, the quasibiennial 2.25-year variation was correlated with the frequency of Asian dust occurrence, the periodicities of which have been recorded inter-annually over the Korean Peninsula.

• Atmosphere
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2020

This study analyzed and compared development mechanisms leading to heat waves of 2016 and 2018 in Korea. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis Interim (ERA Interim) dataset and Automated Surface Observing System data are used for synoptic scale analysis. The synoptic conditions are investigated using geopotential height, temperature, equivalent potential temperature, thickness, potential vorticity, omega, outgoing longwave radiation, and blocking index, etc. Heat waves in South Korea occur in relation to Western North Pacific Subtropical High (WNPSH) pressure system which moves northwestward to East Asia during summer season. Especially in 2018, WNPSH intensified due to strong large-scale circulation associated with convective activities in the Philippine Sea, and moved farther north to Korea when compared to 2016. In addition, the Tibetan high near the tropopause settled over Northern China on top of WNPSH creating a very strong anticyclonic structure in the upper-level over the Korean Peninsula. Unlike 2018, WNPSH was weaker and centered over the East China Sea in 2016. Analysis of blocking indices show wide blocking phenomena over the North Pacific and the Eurasian continent during heat wave event in both years. The strong upper-level ridge which was positioned zonally near 60°N, made the WNPSH over the South Korea stagnant in both years. Analysis of heat wave intensity (HWI) and duration (HWD) show that HWI and HWD in 2018 was both strong leading to extreme high temperatures. In 2016 however, HWI was relatively weak compared to HWD. The longevity of HWD is attributed to atmosphere blocking in the surrounding Eurasian continent.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.87-109
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• 2012

A substantial part of South Africa is subject to more than one strong wind source. The effect of that on extreme winds is that higher quantiles are usually estimated with a mixed strong wind climate estimation method, compared to the traditional Gumbel approach based on a single population. The differences in the estimated quantiles between the two methods depend on the values of the Gumbel distribution parameters for the different strong wind mechanisms involved. Cluster analysis of the distribution parameters provides a characterization of the effect of the relative differences in their values, and therefore the dominance of the different strong wind mechanisms. For gusts, cold fronts tend to dominate over the coastal and high-lying areas, while other mechanisms, especially thunderstorms, are dominant over the lower-lying areas in the interior. For the hourly mean wind speeds cold fronts are dominant in the south-west, south and east of the country. On the West Coast the ridging of the Atlantic Ocean high-pressure system dominate in the south, while the presence of a deep trough or coastal low pressure system is the main strong wind mechanism in the north. In the central interior cold fronts tend to share their influence almost equally with other synoptic-scale mechanisms.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.414-427
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• 2019

In East Asia, the long-range transport of dust storms originating from Mongolia and northern China affects airborne dust loadings over downwind areas in the southern Korean Peninsula. Since 1997, dust loading cases caused by dust storms have been observed using the thresholds of total suspended particles (TSP, ${\geq}250{\mu}g\;m^{-3}\;hr^{-1}$) and particulate matter less than $10{\mu}g$ ($PM_{10}$, ${\geq}190{\mu}g\;m^{-3}\;hr^{-1}$) in the central-southern Korean Peninsula. There were two dust loading cases that exceeded these thresholds in 2016 and three in 2017, which reflects the downward trend of the last twenty-one years in the central-southern Korean Peninsula. Furthermore, five other dust loading cases with mass concentrations lower than the thresholds were observed from 2016 to 2017. In the moderate dust loading cases exceeding the thresholds, a descending motion of cut-off lows below $45^{\circ}N$ and a southward trough at 500 hPa gpm isopleths intensified at the western ridge, and largely extended the surface high-pressure system over southeast China. Airborne dust loadings following pronounced north-westerlies in the forward side of the high-pressure system were transported to the surface of the central-southern Korean Peninsula. However, in slight dust loading cases lower than the thresholds, the restricted descending motion of cut-off lows over $45^{\circ}N$ and the southwestward trough at 500 hPa gpm isopleths intensified the zonal flow over the Korean Peninsula. Surface high- and low-pressure systems moved eastward from the source compared to moderate dust loading cases. Due to the zonal movement of dust storms traversing eastern China, slight dust loading cases were observed with relatively higher ratios of $PM_{2.5}/TSP$ and carbon monoxide (CO) in the central-southern Korean Peninsula.