Abstract

This study quantified $CO_2$, $SO_2$ and $NO_2$ uptake by vegetation in Seoul. The natural area was only 20% of the area of Seoul and its tree-age structure was dominated by a young and growing tree population. However the natural area accounted for about 65%, 60%, and 59% of total $CO_2$, $SO_2$ and $NO_2$ uptake relatively. In natural area broad-leaved forest was dominative and accounted for about 37.8%, 36.7%, 36.6% of total $CO_2$, $SO_2$ and $NO_2$ uptake in Seoul relatively. In urbanized area the park type land use played an important role. It's area was only 17% of the urbanized area in Seoul, but it accounted for about 67%, 57%, and 56% of $CO_2$, $SO_2$ and $NO_2$ uptake in urbanized area relatively. Total annual uptake by vegetative cover was estimated as 446,741 ton/yr for $CO_2$, 314 ton/yr for $SO_2$ and 815 ton/yr for $NO_2$, and economic value of atmospheric purification for the entire area of Seoul amounted to approximately \228,073 millions/yr for the annual $CO_2$, $SO_2$ and $NO_2$ uptake. The results from this study are expected to be useful not merely in informing the public of atmospheric purification values of vegetative cover, but in urging the necessity for replanting and management budgets.

Keywords

• Land Use;
• $CO_2$;
• $SO_2$;
• $NO_2$;
• Economic Value