A Method for the Discrimination of Precipitation Type Using Thickness and Improved Matsuo's Scheme over South Korea

Abstract

This study investigated a method for the discrimination of precipitation type using thickness of geopotential height at 1000~850 hPa and improved Matsuo's scheme over South Korea using 7 upper-level observations data during winter time from 2003 to 2008. With this research, it was suggested that thickness between snow and rain should range from 1281 to 1297 gpm at 1000~850 hPa. This threshold was suitable for determining precipitation type such as snow, sleet and rain and it was verified by investigation at 7 upper-level observation and 10 surface observation data for 3 years (2009~2011). In addition, precipitation types were separated properly by Matsuo's scheme and its improved one, which is a fuction of surface air temperature and relative humidity, when they lie in mixed sectors. Precipitation types in the mixed sector were subdivided into 5 sectors (rain, rain and snow, snow and rain, snow, and snow cover). We also present the decision table for monitoring and predicting precipitation types using model output of Korea Local Analysis and Prediction System (KLAPS) and observation data.

Effect of Sunny/Shady Slopes on Phases of Precipitation in China’s Tianshan Mountains

“…Past studies on the phases of precipitation have concentrated mainly on the temperature profile and geopotential thickness to explore the conditions that govern the precipitation phase [17][18][19][20] and on the microphysical aspects of the transformation between rain and snow [21][22]. Studies on the precipitation phases in the Tianshan Mountains are confined mainly to analysis of the characteristics of snow and the process of melting [23][24][25]: a systematic analysis of the phase transformation in the Tianshan Mountains has received little attention.…”