• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.313-323
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• 2006

Forest Canopy Density is a dynamic process mediated by various natural and anthropogenic factors. It can be changed over time and locations in the same forest type and landscape. However, human dimensions are considered as the primary force of landscape change and subsequent forest canopy loss in tropical regions of the world. Many studies have been indicated that roads have a far greater impact on forests than simply allowing access for human use. Similarly, rivers have been used as means of transportation, hence illegal logging and felling further deplete forest canopy density. The main objective of this study was to investigate the spatio-temporal dynamic alterations of Forest Canopy Density (FCD) across with site associated factors such as biophysical, physical and human interferences in tropical region of Nepal from 1988 to 2001. Landsat TM and ETM+ of 1988 and 2001 were used to assess the spatial and temporal dynamic alterations of FCD. This analysis revealed that distance to human settlements at P=<0.01, rivers, human interferences (path and fire) and species composition had a statistically significance at P=<0.05 level. However, other factors did not show any significant relation. So, we concluded that understanding of dynamic alterations of FCD with respect to factors was quite complex phenomena. Other surrounding environment could also playa significant role. A comprehensive analysis could be required to understand such complexities. Therefore, additional factors such as climatic, biophysical, social, and institutional with respect to spatio-temporal variability should be considered for the better understanding of canopy dynamic.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.88 no.1
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• pp.38-46
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• 1999

Canopy structure conductances of a Norway spruce forest in the Solling Hills(Central Germany) and Central Forest Biosphere Reserve(320km to the north-west from Moscow) were derived from LE(latent heat flux) and H(sensible heat flux) fluxes measured(by Eddy correlation technique and energy balance method) and modelled(by one dimensional non-steady-state) SVAT(soil-vegetation-atmosphere-transfer) model(SLODSVAT) using a rearranged Penman-Monteith equation("Big-leaf" approximation) during June 1996. They were compared with canopy stomatal conductances estimated by consecutive intergrating the stomatal conductance of individual needles over the whole canopy("bottom-up" approach) using SLODSVAT model. The result indicate a significant difference between the canopy surface conductances derived from measured and modelled fluxes("top-down" approach) and the stomatal conductances modelled by the SLODSVAT("bottom-up" approach). This difference was influenced by some nonphysiological factors within the forest canopy(e.g. aerodynamic and boundary layer resistances, radiation budget, evapotranspiration from the forest understorey). In general, canopy surface conductances derived from measured and modelled fluxes exceeded canopy stomatal conductance during the whole modelled period, The contribution of the understorey's evapotranspiration to the total forest evapotranspiration was small (up to 5-9% of the total LE flux) and was not depended on total radiation balance of forest canopy. Ignoring contribution of the understorey's evapotranspiration resulted in an overestimation of the canopy surface conductance for a spruce forest up to 2mm/s(about 10-15%).

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.305-311
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• 2006

Although there have been several attempts to estimate forest LAI using optical remote sensor data, there are still not enough evidences whether the NDVI is effective to estimate forest LAI, particularly in fully closed canopy situation. In this study, we have conducted a simple correlation analysis between LAI and spectral reflectance at two different settings: 1) laboratory spectral measurements on the multiple-layers of leaf samples and 2) Landsat ETM+ reflectance in the close canopy forest stands with fieldmeasured LAI. In both cases, the correlation coefficients between LAI and spectral reflectance were higher in short-wave infrared (SWIR) and visible wavelength regions. Although the near-IR reflectance showed positive correlations with LAI, the correlations strength is weaker than in SWIR and visible region. The higher correlations were found with the spectral reflectance data measured on the simulated vegetation samples than with the ETM+ reflectance on the actual forests. In addition, there was no significant correlation between the forest.LAI and NDVI, in particular when the LAI values were larger than three. The SWIR reflectance may be important factor to improve the potential of optical remote sensor data to estimate forest LAI in close canopy situation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.96 no.2
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• pp.227-234
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• 2007

The forest canopy gap has been well known as a substantial process of forest cyclic regeneration and important role in stand structure, dynamics, and biodiversity of the forest ecosystem. Based on 3,600 $5m{\times}5m$ square grids in a 9ha permanent experimental plot, the study was conducted to evaluate the regeneration pattern of woody species by developmental stage {seedlings (<1 m of height), saplingI (>1 m of height, <2 cm of DBH), and saplingII (2 cm$<200m^2$), $201-400m^2$, $400-600m^2$, $601-800m^2$, and $>800m^2$) in the mixed broadleaved-Korean pine forest. The results indicated that the regenerating trees of Populus ussuriensis occurred only in the canopy gap area, considered to be a typical gap-dependent species. The regeneration of Ulmus japonica, Ulmus laciniata, and Maackia amurensis could be generally satisfied with the gap size of $201-600m^2$, Betula costata and Prunus padus with gap size of $401-800m^2$, Picea koraiensis with gap size of $201-800m^2$, Fraxinus mandshurica and Syringa reticulata var. mandshurica with smaller than $800m^2$, respectively. Acer ukurunduense and Acer tegmentosum were likely to have no problem with the gap size to make gap regeneration. Acer mono and Tilia amurensis looked more capable of regenerating in the closed canopy disregarding the upper crown condition. The regeneration of Pinus koraiensis and Abies nephrolepis had no trouble under the canopy condition in less than $800m^2$of gap size. The density of regenerating shrubs was rather high, especially under the closed canopy, considered to be associated with great amount of regeneration production in such shade tolerant species as Lonicera maackii, Corylus mandshurica, Euonymus pauciflorus, and Philadelphus schrenkii under the closed canopy. Pearson correlation coefficient was computed to compare the similarity among non-gap area and five gap size classes by developmental stages for trees and shrubs. The similarity coefficients among closed canopy and the gap size classes were mostly significantly correlated to each other with a few exceptions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.102 no.2
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• pp.247-254
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to assess the canopy fuel characteristics of five major coniferous species in Korea. This study was also developed allometric equations for the canopy fuel load and canopy base height of the major coniferous species using the allomeric equations of biomass developed by the Korea Forest Research Institute and the data from the $5^{th}$ National Forest Inventory. Among the major coniferous fuel types, Pinus koraiensis stands had the highest mean canopy bulk density, 0.34 kg/$m^3$, followed by Gangwon region Pinus densiflora stands 0.28 kg/$m^3$, Pinus thunbergii stands 0.24 kg/$m^3$, Pinus rigida stands 0.15 kg/$m^3$, Central region Pinus densiflora stands 0.12 kg/$m^3$ and Larix leptolepis stands 0.09 kg/$m^3$. The adjusted multiple coefficient of determination of the developed models ranged from 0.6321 to 0.9950 for canopy fuel load and 0.6390 to 0.8539 for canopy base height.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.663-673
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to scientifically activate the forest healing program activities for the elderly. The predicted mean vote (PMV) and predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD), which are indices of thermal comfort in the thermal environment, and degree of canopy closure were compared and analyzed. Based on this information, the study objective was to present the appropriate conditions for maintaining the best comfort for the elderly. Six deck road shelters, which are the most active locations in forest healing programs among the National Center for Forest Therapy, were selected as the study sites. The results indicated that in the case of the conditions of 1 clo (clothing insulation value) and 1 met (metabolic rate) at an air temperature of 19 to 21 degrees in September on the measurement date, the PMV values ranged between -1.85 and -0.98 at all sites, and PPD values ranged between 25.60% and 68.68%. On the other hand, in the case of 1.3 clo and 1.6 met conditions, the PMV values ranged between -0.08 and 0.23 for all sites and PPD values ranged between 5.40 and 6.18. As shown above, the difference in thermal environment comfort and satisfaction according to the condition of the amount of metabolism and the amount of clothing could be confirmed. In addition, an analysis of the relation between PPD and canopy closure suggested a significantly positive correlation between them, and it was found that canopy closure was a factor affecting thermal comfort. Studies on effects of forest thermal environmental comfort and canopy closure on forest healing program areas should be conducted extensively according to seasonal conditions to provide information that can be used for more effective forest healing programs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.107 no.4
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• pp.412-421
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of forest management activities on canopy fuel characteristics for Pinus densiflora stands in South Korea. We used 1,085 managed stands data and 349 unmanaged stands data of the National Forest Inventory for this study, and it was estimated by using the Weibull function for the growth of stand and canopy fuel characteristics. Comparing the canopy fuel characteristics for the managed stands and unmanaged stands shows that the average canopy fuel load is about 14% higher than that of managed stands, and the canopy bulk density is also approximately 16% higher. The results of comparing growth projections for 40 years, 50 years and 60 years with the Weibull function are as follows: Over time, managed stands was predicted the maximum number of medium and large class diameter, while unmanaged stands was predicted maximum number of small and medium class diameter. From a fire fuel perspective, unmanaged stands are predicted to be of the type small class diameter and high density, which is a good condition for crown fire. In addition, Canopy fuel load, Canopy bulk density is relatively higher than managed stands, indicating that the possibility of high crown fire hazard.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.89 no.5
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• pp.543-551
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• 2000

This study was conducted to understand Pinus densiflora regeneration characteristics from canopy gaps due to disturbance in natural forests located at Mt. Joongwang in Kangwon-do. The line-transect method was adopted to analyze crown architecture of Pinus densiflora. The saplings of Pinus densiflora in the canopy gap showed high adaptation to growth environment at their early regeneration stage, and showed different characteristics in crown architecture. Variation of branching angle in the main branch of Pinus densiflora was small in canopy gap. Primary branch growth showed was high during 4~5 year-old period and slowly low after that period. Average 5 of primary branch were generated from stem in canopy. Average 4 of secondary branch were generated from primary branch in canopy gap. Primary branches generated from the stem were uniformly distributed at all cardinal directions. When canopy gap size is $100{\sim}120m^2$, secondary branches generated from primary branch had mostly high numbers between $S44^{\circ}E$ and $S90^{\circ}W$.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.297-305
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• 2012

This study was performed to estimate forest canopy density (FCD) using airborne hyperspectral data acquired in the Independence Hall of Korea in central Korea. The airborne hyperspectral data were obtained with 36 narrow spectrum ranges of visible (Red, Green, and Blue) and near infrared spectrum (NIR) scope. The FCD mapping model developed by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) uses vegetation index (VI), bare soil index (BI), shadow index (SI), and temperature index (TI) for estimating FCD. Vegetation density (VD) was calculated through the integration of VI and BI, and scaled shadow index (SSI) was extracted from SI after the detection of black soil by TI. Finally, the FCD was estimated with VD and SSI. For the estimation of FCD in this study, VI and SI were extracted from hyperspectral data. But BI and TI were not available from hyperspectral data. Hyperspectral data makes the numerous combination of each band for calculating VI and SI. Therefore, the principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to find which band combinations are explanatory. This study showed that forest canopy density can be efficiently estimated with the help of airborne hyperspectral data. Our result showed that most forest area had 60 ~ 80% canopy density. On the other hand, there was little area of 10 ~ 20% canopy density forest.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.219-230
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• 1995

Although many studies of nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems have reported that clearcutting creates increased organic matter decomposition and nitrogen (N) mineralization in soils, little is known about the change of these factors following various levels of canopy removal. A series of experimental plots with four levels of canopy cover, i.e., clearcut, 25％, 75％, and uncut, was established in northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) stands in northern Lover Michigan, U.S.A. I examined decomposition of cellulose filter papers and N mineralization using an in situ soil incubation technique in the top 15cm of mineral soil during the second growing season (1992, May-October) following stand manipulation. Mass loss from cellulose filter papers was more rapid in the canopy removal treatments than in the uncut treatment. similarly, net N mineralization was significantly greater in the canopy removal treatments than in the uncut treatment. There was no significant difference in net N mineralization rates among the three levels of canopy removal. Net N mineralization for the growing season was 58 kg/ha for the clearcut, 54 kg/ha for the 25％ canopy cover, 51 kg/ha for the 75％ canopy cover, and 22 kg/ha for the uncut treatment. These results indicated that even only small amounts of canopy removal (leaving 75％ canopy cover) let to substantial increases of cellulose decomposition and the amount of available soil nitrogen.