Case Studies on Freezing Rain over the Korean Peninsula Using KLAPS

In this study, the occurrence circumstances of 3 cases (12 Jan 2006, 11 Jan 2008, 22 Feb 2009) when the freezing rain was observed at more than two observatories in a day with more than three times each observatory, were investigated. Following the advanced study about the same cases, we have tried to find more delicate differences in using the Korea Local Analysis and Prediction System (KLAPS; 5 km reanalysis data) that has the smallest grid scale at current situation. As results, three common characteristics are found: (1) Just before the occurrence of the freezing rain, the wind direction was consistently continuous and the wind speed was constant or gradually increased for at least 3 hr more. (2) Surface air temperature (Relative humidity) was respectively 3.08 degrees C (28.76%), 0.47 degrees C (50.07%) and -3.60 degrees C (71.07%) 3 hr ago to break out the freezing rain. It means the freezing rain occurs in a wide range of atmospheric environments. However, the closer it got to the occurrence time of the freezing rain, the closer the surface air temperature was to 0 degrees C, and the bigger the humidity of the surface air was. (3) The liquid precipitation formed in the upper atmosphere, met a cold advection bellower than 950 hPa level and suspected to be changed to the super-cooled condition.