Differences in carbon sink by land use using topographic correction in Seoul, South Korea

This study attempts to confirm the differences in carbon sink according to each type of land use by using the biotope map and reviewing carbon sink considering topography, and comparing those before-and-after topographic correction. The types of carbon sink were focused on Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Net Primary Productivity (NPP). Results indicate that the NPP values for 3 periods were found to be 142.885 gC/square m/year (1999), 133.416 gC/square m/year (2004), 163.650 gC/square m/year (2009) on the average and the average NPP values have increased for 10 years. The NPP value for 10 years has been increased. The forest areas showed the highest NPP values (average 250.188 gC/square m/year) and the NPP values (average 102.095 gC/square m/year) of rivers and wetlands were lowest. The NPP-values revised by topographical correction in forest areas showed bigger differences from NPP-values than other land use. The range of NPP-values showed from 0.001 gC/square m/year to 326.342 gC/square m/ year. The NPP-values after topographical correction varied according to rugged terrain. The forest areas in South Korea have many curves different from other land use, and slopes have uneven topographical characteristics. In the case of residential areas and commercial areas transformed to even topography from uneven topography, the effects by topographical correction are found less.