• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.103 no.2
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• pp.248-257
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• 2014

The objectives of this study were to identify the root plate dimension of wind-uprooted trees and to analyze the relationship among wind direction, aboveground and belowground properties of the trees. The root plates of 77 Japanese larches (Larix kaempferi) and 24 Korean pines (Pinus koraiensis), which were uprooted by a typhoon in 2012, in the Taehwa Experimental Forest of Seoul National University, Korea, were investigated. The results showed the root plate shape could be assumed to be an oval or a circle in above view, and half an ellipse in side view, respectively. Also, the number and surface area of individual roots in root plates were greater in uprooting direction than in non-uprooting direction. The results of correlation analyses between aboveground and belowground properties indicated DBH had more significant correlation with belowground properties than tree height. Finally, simple linear relationships were derived for significantly correlated tree aboveground and belowground properties.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.175-183
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• 2015

Extremely strong winds and heavy rainfall caused canopy gaps in a mixed Abies holophylla broadleaf forest and a Quercus mongolica-dominated forest in Odaesan National Park, Korea in October 2006. The impact of the combination of strong winds and torrential rain on the development of forest gaps and canopy structures were investigated. The mean size of newly created gaps were $205m^2$ in the mixed forest and $86m^2$ in the Quercus forest, and were created by 2.8 and 1.4 gapmaker trees, respectively. Among the 73 trees lost in the mixed forest, 59% succumbed because of direct wind damage while 41% were struck by neighboring trees that fell into them. Most of these trees downed by wind were uprooted (74%), while the trees downed by neighboring tree falls snapped (78%). 21 trees in the Quercus forest died from direct wind damage, and 57% of them were uprooted. Although the relative density of Abies nephrolepis and A. holophylla represented only 0.2% and 6.4%, respectively, of all species in the intact mixed forest, they accounted for 27% and 15%, respectively, of all trees affected by wind on that site. In fact, 85% of the total A. nephrolepis and 91% of the total A. holophylla in the mixed forest fell directly due to strong wind. By contrast, only one Abies species, A. nephrolepis, was found in the Quercusdominated forest, and it accounted for 7.3% of the species composition. These findings suggest that A. nephrolepis and A. holophylla are particularly susceptible to high winds because of their great heights and shallow root systems.