Numerical Study of Storm Surges and Tide around Korea Using Operational Ocean Model

Abstract

In this study, a two-dimensional storm surges/tide prediction model called the Storm surges/Tide Operational Model (STORM) was developed and applied as the operational forecast model of the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). STORM has good horizontal resolution (8 km) and accounts for the interaction between tides and storm surges. This model has been implemented for the northwestern Pacific Ocean including the area around the Korean Peninsula. To examine the model performance, a hindcasting experiment was carried out for Typhoon Maemi. The results showed good agreement between the simulation and observation. The operational model results were also verified for two years (June 2005–June 2007) using observed sea level data from tidal stations around the Korean Peninsula. Comparisons of modeled and observed sea level revealed larger differences at the western coast of Korea than at the southern and eastern coasts. The seasonal variations of bias and root mean square error (RMSE) between the modeled and observed sea levels generally showed small differences in summer and large differences in winter. The average bias, RMSE, and correlation coefficients for 12 total stations between modeled and observed values were −0.13 m (−0.14 m), 0.47 m (0.47 m), and 0.79 (0.78) for 24-hour (48-hour) forecasts.

Keywords:

• STORM
• bias
• correlation
• RMSE
• hindcasting
• verification

Acknowledgements

This research was carried out as a part of the “Valuation of Precision Improvement of Surge Prediction System” and “Development of Global Marine Environment Monitoring System” study supported by Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI) and National Institute of Meteorological Research (NIMR).