Microclimatic Characteristics Based on Relative Humidity and Temperature Variations According to the Habitat of Abies nephrolepis

This study aimed to investigate the microclimatic characteristics of habitats where Abies nephrolepis naturally occurs in Korea. Air temperature and relative humidity were measured over approximately eight months at Mt. Baekdeok and Mt. Nochu, two sites with similar growth conditions for Abies nephrolepis, and several climatic indices were compared and analyzed between the two locations. The results showed that the daily mean temperature was significantly higher at Mt. Nochu, while the daily mean humidity was significantly higher at Mt. Baekdeok. Monthly comparisons of the daily mean, minimum, and maximum values between the two sites revealed more significant differences in humidity compared to temperature. Two climatic indices closely related to plant growth, the warmth index (WI) and the minimum temperature of the coldest month index, were both higher at Mt. Nochu. The calculated index values were outside the reported optimal range for Abies nephrolepis growth except for the WI at Mt. Baekdeok. These findings provide a foundation for understanding the effects of microclimatic factors on Abies nephrolepis growth and developing conifer conservation strategies.