Analysis of Microclimate Characteristics of Small Mountain Forest in Korea Using Weather Sensor Array

Forest microclimates have unique characteristics, which depend on various factors, such as slope, direction, altitude, and vegetation type. We analyzed the characteristics of the microclimate in a forest using temperature, relative humidity (RH), and light intensity at sites 10, 25, and 50 m from the forest edge in four directions (north, 0 degrees; southeast, 135 degrees; south, 180 degrees; and west, 270 degrees) from July 2018 to June 2019. The results indicated statistically significant differences in the daily mean light intensity among the four directions. The sites 10 m from the forest edge displayed significantly different daily mean maximum temperatures, light intensities, and RH in different directions. The 25 and 50 m plots showed significantly different daily mean light intensities and RH in different directions. The primary factor affecting daily mean maximum temperature was direction, whereas RH was driven by altitude, crown density, and direction, and light intensity was controlled by altitude, slope, and direction. The meteorological factors that showed a significant correlation with at least one environmental factor (altitude, slope, direction, tree crown density, and distance from forest edge) were daily mean maximum temperature, RH, and light intensity.