Long-Range Forecasting of Surface Air Temperature and Precipitation for the Korean Peninsula

Abstract

We have designed, developed, and tested a long-range forecasting system for producing forecasts of surface air temperatures and precipitation rates in the Korean Peninsula region at leads of two months for each calendar month. We tested predictors based on the following: (1) indices of the Arctic Oscillation, El Nino/La Nina, North Atlantic Oscillation, Pacific/North American Pattern, and the West Pacific Pattern; (2) 850 hectopascal geopotential heights and sea surface temperatures in specific regions; (3) persistence; and (4) year (to represent long-term trends). Our forecasting system includes 24 multiple linear regression models, one for temperature and one for precipitation for each month. Each model uses a unique set of predictors. We tested each model by conducting 43 years of cross-validated hindcasting for our 1970-2012 study period. The hindcast results showed that, overall, the models had skill in predicting above normal, near normal, and below normal temperatures and precipitation rates for the Korean Peninsula (e.g., Heidke skill scores > 0). We used our January models to successfully forecast temperatures and precipitation for January 2013. We also developed a series of forecaster worksheets to be used to produce forecasts for the Korean Peninsula.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA579958

Entities

People

  • Nicholas J. Reitz

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Temperature
  • California
  • Climate Change
  • Floods
  • Geography
  • Grids
  • High Latitudes
  • Meteorology
  • North America
  • Oceanography
  • Ridges
  • Sea Surface Temperature
  • Surface Temperature
  • Terrain
  • Topography
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • International Relations, focusing on Korea-Africa and North Korea-South Korea relations, and Nigeria-Latin American Relations.
  • Regression Analysis.