• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.364-373
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• 2012

This study is to analyze distribution and change of montane meadows on the lava plateau in the east face of Mt. Baekdu. Process for aims carried out field survey, and analyzed landsat images of 1993, 1999, 2004, and year 2010. After research findings, the area of forests has increased by 33% from $636km^2$ to $848km^2$, montane meadow has decreased by 58% from $303km^2$ to $127km^2$ during 18 years. Montane meadows could be classified as 2 categories of wet meadow and dry meadow by the geomorphic environments and vegetation types. Wet meadow has decreased by 30%, dry meadow has decreased by 70% in the same period. Decreasing areas are replacing meadows with forests in invasion by trees and shrubs. According to the analysis with weather data for 16 years from 1993 to 2008, temperature has increased by $1.6^{\circ}C$, on the other hand, precipitation has decreased by 5.3mm. These kinds of climate change trends continue in the future, it could be change montane meadows into tree types.