Analysis of characteristic and estimation of carbon budget based on major vegetation types in Korea

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study was conducted to quantify a Net Ecosystem Production (NEP) of Korea's local governments based on the ecosystem carbon cycle system and to survey a carbon budget which was calculated carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption of Korea's local governments. The field survey was conducted in the vicinity of Cheongju (central region) and Yeosu (southern region). The study sites were selected by Pinus densiflora, Quercus acutissima and Quercus mongolica forests in the vicinity of Cheongju, Pinus densiflora, Quercus acutissima forests in the vicinity of Yeosu for natural forest, Pinus rigida and Larix kaempferi forests in the vicinity of Cheongju, Pinus rigida in the vicinity of Yeosu for artificial forest. Net Primary Production (NPP) was determined by allometric growth method in natural and artificial forest. Soil respiration was measured by IRGA (EGM-4) and NEP was determined by difference of NPP and soil respiration. Landuse analysis was used by LandSat satellite image. CO2 emissions was the highest in Pohang, Gwangyang and Yeosu that were developed by petroleum, chemical and heavy industry. CO2 emissions per unit area was highest in Seoul, Pohang, Gwangyang was followed. CO2 absorbtion was hightest in Gangwon province of forest-rich and very low in Seoul, Daejeon, Gwangju and Daegu of metropolitan cities. As the total CO2 emissions and total CO2 absorption was calculated by deducting, CO2 absorption was very low as the level of 12.3% of CO2 emissions.. Nevertheless, regions of the absorption beyond the emissions were observed. They were Gangwon province 10, Gyeongsangbuk province 8, Jeollanam Province 7, Gyeongsangnam province 5, Jeollabuk Province 5, Gyeonggi province 3, and Chungcheongbuk province 3. Hereafter, in opening the carbon market, this information could be used as valuable information for carbon tax allocation of the local government and trading of carbon sink.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

It was conducted to estimate the seasonal variation of the soil respiration (Rsoil), to develop an empirical model of Rsoil as functions of temperature and soil water content in a cool-temperate oak (Quercus mongolica) forest at Mt. Nam of Seoul and Mt. Jeombong of Inje-gun, Korea. Air temperature, soil temperatures and soil water content were measured with continuous measurements of Rsoil using the automated chamber systems. Rsoil showed a typical seasonal variation in accordance with temperatures, high in summer and low in winter. The Rsoil was strongly correlated with soil temperature (Ts) at the 5 cm depth. However, the high fluctuation of Rsoil was related with soil water content (Ws) during the forest growing season. The optimal regression equation of Rsoil with the Ts at 5 cm depth and the Ws at 15 cm depth was Rsoil = Rsoil(T) + ΔRsoil(T) = 101.29 exp(0.1119Ts) - 10.09(Ws)2 + 604.2(Ws) - 8627.7 For Ts ≥ 0 ℃ and Rsoil = 0 for Ts < 0 ℃ of Mt. Nam and Rsoil = Rsoil(T) + ΔRsoil(T) = 95.608 exp(0.1304Ts)- 33.086(Ws)2 + 1949.2(Ws) – 28499 For Ts ≥ 0 ℃ and Rsoil = 0 for Ts < 0 ℃ of Mt. Jeombong. The annual total soil respiration estimated by the optimal regression equation was 1339.4 g C m−2 of Mt. Nam and 1003.0 g C m−2 of Mt. Jeombong. Net Ecosystem Production (NEP) is found to be 3.3 tonCha-2yr-1 of Mt. Nam and 2.1 tonCha-2yr-1 of Mt. Jeombong.