• Atmosphere
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.49-68
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• 2014

This study analyzed atmospheric conditions for the convergent cloud band (Cu-Cb line) in developing stage and its neighbouring convections formed over the East Sea on 1 February 2012, by using synoptic, satellites data, and WRF numerical simulation output of high resolution. In both satellite images and the WRF numerical simulation outputs, the Cu-Cb line that stretched out toward northwest-southeast was shown in the East Sea, and cloud lines of the L mode were aligned in accordance with the prevailing surface wind direction. However, those of the T mode were aligned in the direction of NE-SW, which was nearly perpendicular direction to the surface winds. The directions of the wind shear vectors connecting top winds and bottom winds of the moist layers of the L mode and the T mode were identical with those of the cloud lines of L mode and T mode, respectively. From the WRF simulation convection circulations with a convergence in the lower layer of atmosphere and a divergence above 1.5 km ASL (Above Sea Level) were identified in the Cu-Cb line. A series of small sized vortexes (maximum vortex: $320{\times}10^{-5}s^{-1}$) of meso-${\gamma}$-scale formed by convergences was found along the Cu-Cb lines, suggesting that Cu-Cb lines, consisting of numerous convective clouds, were closely associated with a series of the small vortexes. There was an absolute unstable layer (${\partial}{\theta}/{\partial}z$ < 0) between sfc and ~0.3 km ASL, and a stable layer (${\partial}{\theta}/{\partial}z$ > 0) above ~2 km ASL over the Cu-Cb line and cloud zones. Not only convectively unstable layers (${\partial}{\theta}_e/{\partial}z$ < 0) but also neutral layers (${\partial}{\theta}_e/{\partial}z{\approx}=0$) in the lower atmosphere (sfc~1.5 km ASL) were scattered around over the cloud zones. Particularly, for the Cu-Cb line there were convectively unstable layers in the surface layer, and neutral layers (${\partial}{\theta}_e/{\partial}z{\approx}=0$) between 0.2 and ~1.5 km ASL over near the center of the Cu-Cb line, and the neutralization of unstable layers came from the release of convective instability.

• Atmosphere
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.125-139
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• 2020

On 6 August 2018, heavy rainfall of daily precipitation of more than 200 mm occurred in the Yeong-dong coastal area, and especially, 1-hour precipitation of 93 mm (0251~0351 LST (local standard time) 6 August) at Gangneung station, ranked second in the history of meteorological survey of the station. In this study, this heavy rainfall case over the Gangneung area would be studied to investigate the process in which the heavy rainfall occurred. A developed ridge moved toward the Yeong-dong coastal area from the Maritime Province in Russia. The approaching of the ridge led to the northeasterly cold wind over the coastal region, causing the collision between the incoming northeasterly cold wind, and the humid and warm (convectively unstable) air located over the Yeong-dong area. This collision led to a strong convergence (maximum -206 × 10^-5 s^-1) at 925 hPa level over the vicinity of Gangneung at 0300 LST 6 August, resulting updraft of up to about 4.4 m s^-1 at 700 hPa level over the area. This strong updraft forced to lift rapidly the convectively unstable, warm and humid air layer, located over the vicinity of Gangneung, leading to the heavy rainfall (1-hour precipitation of 93 mm) over the area.

• Atmosphere
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.463-480
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• 2019

This study classified heavy rain types from K-means clustering for the hourly relationship between rainfall intensity and cloud top height over the Korean peninsula, and then examined their statistical characteristics for the period of June~August 2013~2018. Total rainfall amount of warm-type events was 2.65 times larger than that of the cold-type, whereas the lightning frequency divided by total rainfall for the warm-type was only 46% of the cold-type. Typical cold-type cases exhibited high cloud top height around 16 km, large reflectivity in the upper layer, and frequent lightning flashes under convectively unstable condition. Phenomenally, the cold-type cases corresponded to cloud cluster or multi-cell thunderstorms. However, two warm-type cases related to Changma and typhoon were characterized by heavy rainfall due to long duration, relatively low cloud top height and upper-level reflectivity, and the absence of lightning under the convectively neutral and extremely humid conditions. This study further confirmed that the forecast skill of rainfall could be improved by applying correction factor with the overestimation for cold-type and underestimation for warm-type cases in the Local Data Assimilation and Prediction System (LDAPS) operational model (e.g., BIAS score was improved by 5%).

• Atmosphere
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.301-319
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• 2016

The evolutionary process of the polar low, which caused the heavy snowfall in the East Coast area on 11~12 February 2011, was investigated to describe in detail using synoptic weather charts, satellite imageries, and ERA (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Re-Analysis) -Interim reanalysis data. It was revealed that 1) the polar low was generated over the sea near Busan where a large cyclonic shear in the inverted trough branched from the parent low existed, 2) during the developing and mature stages, there was a convectively unstable region in the lower layer around the polar low and its south side, 3) the polar low was developed in the region where the static stability in the 500~850 hPa layer was the lowest, 4) the result from the budget analysis of the vorticity equation indicated that the increase in the vorticity at the lower atmosphere, where the polar low was located, was dominated mainly by the stretching term, 5) the warm core structure of the polar low was identified in the surface-700 hPa layer during the mature stage, 6) there was a close inverse relationship between a development of the polar low and the height of the dynamic tropopause over the polar low, and 7) for generation and development of the polar low, large-scale circulation systems, such as upper cold low and its combined short wave trough, major low (parent low), and polar air outbreak, should be presented, indicating that the polar low has the nature of the baroclinic disturbance.