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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

Heavy rainfall (>30 mm hr −1 ) over the Korean Peninsula is examined in order to understand thermo-dynamic characteristics of the atmosphere, using radiosonde observational data from seven upper-air observation stations during the last 17 years (1997~2013). A total of 82 heavy rainfall cases during the summer season (June-August) were selected for this study. The average values of thermo-dynamic indices of heavy rainfall events are Total Precipitable Water (TPW) = 60 mm, Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) = 850 J kg −1 , Convective Inhibition (CIN) = 15 J kg −1 , Storm Relative Helicity (SRH) = 160 m 2 s −2 , and 0~3 km bulk wind shear = 5 s −1 . About 34% of the cases were associated with a Changma front; this pattern is more significant than other synoptic pressure patterns such as troughs (22%), migratory cyclones (15%), edges of high-pressure (12%), typhoons (11%), and low-pressure originating from Changma fronts (6%). The spatial distribution of thermo-dynamic conditions (CAPE and SRH) is similar to the range of thunderstorms over the United States, but extreme conditions (supercell thunderstorms and tornadoes) did not appear in the Korean Peninsula. Synoptic conditions, vertical buoyancy (CAPE, CIN), and wind parameters (SRH, shear) are shown to discriminate among the environments of the three types. The first type occurred with high CAPE and low wind shear by the edge of the high pressure pattern, but Second type is related to Changma front and typhoon, exhibiting low CAPE and high wind shear. The last type exhibited characteristics intermediate between the first and second types, such as moderate CAPE and wind shear near the migratory cyclone and trough.