• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.373-384
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• 2003

This study analyses the soil loss due to cropland increase in the Hoeryeung area of northeast Korea, using Landsat images of 1987 TM and 2001 ETM, together with DTED, soil and geological maps, and rainfall data of 20 years. Items of land cover and land use were categorized as cropland, settlement, forest, river zone, and sand deposit by supervised classification with spectral bands 1, 2 and 3. RUSLE model is used for estimation of soil loss, and AML language for calculation of soil loss volumes. Fourier transformation method is used for unification of the geographical grids between Landsat images and DTED. GTD was selected from 1:50,000 topographic map. Main sources of soil losses over 100 ton/year may be the river zone and settlement in the both times of 1987 and 2001, but the image of the 2001 shows that sources areas have developed up to the higher mountain slopes. In the cropland average, increases of hight and gradient are 24m and $0.8^{\circ}$ from 1987 to 2001. In the case of new developed cropland, average increases are 75m and $2.5^{\circ}$, and highest soil loss has occurred at the elevation between 300 and 500m. The soil loss 57 ton of 1987 year increased 85 ton of 2001 year. Soil loss is highest in $30{\sim}50^{\circ}$ slope zones in both years, but in 2001 year, soil loss increased under $30^{\circ}$ zones. The size of area over 200 ton/year, indicating higher risk of landslides, have increased from $28.6km^2$ of 1987 year to $48.8km^2$ of 2001 year.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.481-492
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• 2003

This study aims to analyze quantitatively changes of forest and cropland landscape due to cropland increase toward higher mountain slope during 9 years from 1993 to 2002, using Landsat images and field survey in the vicinity of Manpo and Gangae cities, Jagang Province, Northwest Korea, During 9 years, cropland has increased as 49.9%, forest area decreased as 16%. The spatial characteristics of cropland changes present that average elevation of cropland are increased from 381m of 1993 year to 412m of 2002 year, and average gradient increased from $10^{\circ}$ to $13^{\circ}$. In increased area of cropland during 9 years, the average elevation is 455m, and average gradient is $15^{\circ}$ with maximum gradient $70^{\circ}$. Analysis of the patch phenomena by fragmentation of vegetation landscape show that number of patch increased from 394 to 1,241 and also values of shape index, and fractal dimension of vegetation are increased slightly, during 9 years. Croplands have developed mainly in mountain slopes of elevation between 450 to 750m. For improvement of agricultural productivity, it should be required political and social stabilization, international and South Korea's assistance, and restoration of mountain forest.