• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2005

Microclimate of Gwangneung forest watershed is characterized by analyzing wind, radiation, profiles of air temperature and humidity, soil and bole temperature, precipitation and soil water content measured at and around the flux tower from April 2000 to September 2003. Mountain-valley wind was prevalent due to the topographic effect with dominant wind from east during daytime and relatively weak wind from west during nighttime. Air temperature reaches its peak in July-August whereas monthly-averaged incoming shortwave radiation shows its peak in May due to summer monsoon. Albedo ranges from 0.12 to 0.16 during the growing season. Monthly-averaged bole temperature is in phase with monthly- averaged air temperature which is consistently higher. Monthly-averaged soil temperature lags behind air temperature and becomes higher with leaf fall. With the emergence of leafage in April, maximum temperature level during midday shifts from the ground surface to the crown level of 15-20m in May. Profiles of water vapor pressure show a similar shift in May but the ground surface remains as the major source of water. Vapor pressure deficit is highest in spring and lowest in winter. Monthly averaged surface soil temperatures range from 0 to 20℃ with a maximum in August. Monthly averaged trunk temperatures of the dominant tree species range from -5.8 to 21.6℃ with their seasonal variation and the magnitudes similar to those of air temperature. Annual precipitation amount varies significantly from year to year, of which >60% is from July and August. Vertical profiles of soil moisture show different characteristics that may suggest an important role of lateral movement of soil water associated with rainfall events.