• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.446-454
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• 2023

The impact of climate change on agriculture is substantial, especially as global warming is projected to lead to varying temperature and humidity patterns in the future. These changes pose a higher risk for both crops and livestock, exposing them to environmental stressors under altered climatic conditions. Specifically, as temperatures are expected to rise, the risk of heat stress is assessable through the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI), derived from temperature and relative humidity data. This study involved the comparison of THI collected from 10 Korea Meteorological Administration ASOS stations spanning a 60-year period from 1961 to 2020. Moreover, high-resolution temperature and humidity distribution data from 1981 to 2020 were employed to generate high-resolution TH I distributions, analyzing temporal changes. Additionally, the number of days characterized by heat stress, derived from TH I, was compared over different time periods. Generally, TH I showed an upward trend over the past, albeit with varying rates across different locations. As TH I increased, the frequency of heat stress days also rose, indicating potential future cost increases in the livestock industry due to heat-related challenges. The findings emphasize the feasibility of evaluating heat stress risk in livestock using THI and underscore the need for research analyzing THI under future climate change scenarios.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.57-67
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• 2020

Pinus densiflora is the most widely distributed tree species in South Korea. Its ecological and socio-cultural attributes makes it one of the most important tree species in S. Korea. In recent times however, the distribution of P. densiflora has been affected by dieback. This phenomenon has largely been attributed to climate change. This study was conducted to investigate the responses of growth and physiology of P. densiflora to drought and nitrogen fertiliz ation according to the RCP 8.5 scenario. A Temperature Gradient Chamber (TGC) and CO₂. Temperature Gradient Chamber (CTGC) were used to simulate climate change conditions. The treatments were established with temperature (control versus +3 and +5℃; aCeT) and CO₂ (control: aCaT versus x1.6 and x2.2; eCeT), watering(control versus drought), fertilization(control versus fertilized). Net photosynthesis (P_n), stomatal conductance (g_s), biomass and relative soil volumetric water content (VWC) were measured to examine physiological responses and growth. Relative soil VWC in aCeT significantly decreased after the onset of drought. P_n and g_s in both aCeT and eCeT with fertiliz ation were high before drought but decreased rapidly after 7 days under drought because nitrogen fertilization effect did not last long. The fastest mortality was 46 days in aCeT and the longest survival was 56 days in eCeT after the onset of drought. Total and partial biomass (leaf, stem and root) in both aCeT and eCeT with fertiliz ation were significantly high, but significantly low in aCeT. The results of the study are helpful in addressing P. densiflora vulnerability to climate change by highlighting physiological responses related to carbon allocation under differing simulated environmental stressors.