Data Set Citation:
When using this data, please cite the data package:
Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University.
Long-term monthly climate data at the forest stations of Kyoto University
ERDP-2020-03.1.5 (https://db.cger.nies.go.jp/JaLTER/metacat/metacat/ERDP-2020-03.1.5/jalter-en)
General Information:
Title:Long-term monthly climate data at the forest stations of Kyoto University
Identifier:ERDP-2020-03.1.5
Abstract:
Long-term climate monitoring by universities provides fundamental data for various disciplines in the natural sciences. Kyoto University once managed ten university forest stations and is currently managing five. At these stations, climate data have been monitored almost since the establishment of each station until today, with the exception of the stations in foreign countries. We compiled and report the monthly climate data at these forest stations from the start of monitoring until December 2018. These data are important for investigating environmental changes in East Asia, including China (Taiwan), South Korea (Chosen), and Russia (Sakhalin, Karafuto) over the last 100 years. Long-term monitoring often involves minor and major changes in the monitoring procedures, devices, and even monitoring sites due to unavoidable circumstances, such as technological advances, changes in standard methods, and climatic and anthropogenic disasters. Therefore, associated metadata on the monitoring methods are also important. We also compiled metadata on changes in monitoring methods. In addition, to examine the effects of changes in the methods on the observed climate data, we compared the values recorded before and after the change for each climate variable at each monitoring site. Methodological changes affected only a few variables, with the exception of humidity. Careful interpretation may be required when a researcher uses humidity data in any analysis.
Keywords:
  • Air temperature
  • humidity
  • precipitation
  • snow depth
  • university forest
Data Table, Image, and Other Data Details:
Metadata download: Ecological Metadata Language (EML) File
Data Table:Ashiu_Chojidani.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Ashiu_Nakayama.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Ashiu_Sugo.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Chosen_Hamyang.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Chosen_Macheon.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Chosen_Unbong.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Hokkaido_Shibecha.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Hokkaido_Shiranuka.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Kamigamo.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Karafuto_Tomarikeshi.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Kitashirakawa.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Monitoring.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Shirahama.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Taiwan_Chiryu.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Taiwan_Liugui.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Taiwan_Shanping.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Tokuyama.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Wakayama.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Effects_Of_Methods.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Other Data:data_descriptor ( View Metadata | Download File download)

Involved Parties

Data Set Owners:
Organization:Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University
Address:
Oiwake-cho, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku,
Kyoto, Kyoto 606-8502 Japan
Email Address:
joho@kais.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Data Set Contacts:
Individual: Hikaru Nakagawa
Organization:Center of Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University
Address:
46 Shimo-adachi-machi, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku,
Kyoto, Kyoto 606-8304 Japan
Email Address:
hikarunakagawa@icloud.com
Individual: Masae Ishihara
Organization:Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University
Address:
1 Onojya, Miyama, Nantan,
Kyoto, Kyoto 601-0703 Japan
Email Address:
ishihara.masae.8w@kyoto-u.ac.jp
Associated Parties:
Individual: Hikaru Nakagawa
Organization:Center of Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University
Address:
46 Shimo-adachi-machi, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku,
Kyoto, Kyoto 606-8304 Japan
Email Address:
hikarunakagawa@icloud.com
Individual: Atsushi Hasegawa
Organization:Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University
Individual: Daisuke Hayashi
Organization:Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University
Individual: Makoto Furuta
Organization:Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University
Individual: Yasunori Kishimoto
Organization:Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University
Individual: Yuta Miyagi
Organization:Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University
Individual: Kenta Ohashi
Organization:Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University
Individual: Yoshihiko Okabe
Organization:Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University
Individual: Takayuki Yamauchi
Organization:Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University
Individual: Masae Ishihara
Organization:Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University
Address:
1 Onojya, Miyama, Nantan,
Kyoto, Kyoto 601-0703 Japan
Email Address:
ishihara.masae.8w@kyoto-u.ac.jp

Data Set Characteristics

Geographic Region:
Geographic Description:Kitashirakawa Experimental Station
Bounding Coordinates:
West:  135.785  degrees
East:  135.787  degrees
North:  35.033  degrees
South:  35.031  degrees
Mimimum Altitude:60.0  meter
Maximum Altitude:60.0  meter
Geographic Region:
Geographic Description:Ashiu Forest Research Station
Bounding Coordinates:
West:  135.698  degrees
East:  135.795  degrees
North:  35.359  degrees
South:  35.284  degrees
Mimimum Altitude:355.0  meter
Maximum Altitude:959.0  meter
Geographic Region:
Geographic Description:Kamigamo Experimental Station
Bounding Coordinates:
West:  135.757  degrees
East:  135.758  degrees
North:  35.067  degrees
South:  35.066  degrees
Mimimum Altitude:95.0  meter
Maximum Altitude:119.0  meter
Geographic Region:
Geographic Description:Wakayama Forest Research Station
Bounding Coordinates:
West:  135.494  degrees
East:  135.547  degrees
North:  34.075  degrees
South:  34.042  degrees
Mimimum Altitude:455.0  meter
Maximum Altitude:1261.0  meter
Geographic Region:
Geographic Description:Hokkaido Forest Research Station
Bounding Coordinates:
West:  144.62  degrees
East:  144.67  degrees
North:  43.408  degrees
South:  43.325  degrees
Mimimum Altitude:25.0  meter
Maximum Altitude:149.0  meter
Geographic Region:
Geographic Description:Tokuyama Experimental Station
Bounding Coordinates:
West:  131.83  degrees
East:  131.84  degrees
North:  34.075  degrees
South:  34.065  degrees
Mimimum Altitude:102.0  meter
Maximum Altitude:351.0  meter
Geographic Region:
Geographic Description:Shirahama Experimental Station
Bounding Coordinates:
West:  135.357  degrees
East:  135.371  degrees
North:  33.679  degrees
South:  33.668  degrees
Mimimum Altitude:0.0  meter
Maximum Altitude:150.0  meter
Geographic Region:
Geographic Description:Karafuto (Sakhalin) Kyoto University Forest
Bounding Coordinates:
West:  142.72  degrees
East:  142.965  degrees
North:  49.09  degrees
South:  48.885  degrees
Mimimum Altitude:7.0  meter
Maximum Altitude:600.0  meter
Geographic Region:
Geographic Description:Chosen (Korea) Kyoto University Forest
Bounding Coordinates:
West:  127.453  degrees
East:  127.805  degrees
North:  35.474  degrees
South:  35.309  degrees
Mimimum Altitude:215.0  meter
Maximum Altitude:1915.0  meter
Geographic Region:
Geographic Description:Taiwan Kyoto University Forest
Bounding Coordinates:
West:  120.656  degrees
East:  121.059  degrees
North:  23.496  degrees
South:  22.835  degrees
Mimimum Altitude:200.0  meter
Maximum Altitude:3700.0  meter
Time Period:
Begin:
1924-01-01
End:
2018-12-31

Sampling, Processing and Quality Control Methods

Step by Step Procedures
Step 1:
Description:

A Forest stations

Kitashirakawa Experimental Station Kitashirakawa Experimental Station was established on the north campus of Kyoto University in 1924 (0.013 km2, 35.031N–35.033N, 135.785E–135.787E, 60 m a.s.l.). As an arboretum, most of the station is a plantation with more than 200 Japanese tree species and 150 species of foreign tree (Compilation Committee of the One Hundred Years of History at Kyoto University, 1997; http://fserc.kyoto-u.ac.jp/wp/kitashirakawa/, 10 Feb. 2019, last accessed). Ashiu Forest Research Station Ashiu Forest Research Station was established in northeastern Kyoto Prefecture in central Honshu in 1921 (41.9 km2, 35.284N–35.359N, 135.698E–135.795E, 355–959 m a.s.l.) (Compilation Committee of the One Hundred Years of History at Kyoto University, 1997; http://www.ashiu.kais.kyoto-u.ac.jp, 10 Feb. 2019, last accessed). This region is in the transition zone between cool and warm temperate forests. More than half of the station is covered with old-growth forest. In the cool temperate forests, which are at above 600 m a.s.l., the main tree species are Fagus crenata, Cryptomeria japonica, and Quercus crispula. In the warm temperate forests below 600 m a.s.l., Quercus salicina and Quercus sessilifolia grow. Climate data were monitored at three sites at this station. The Sugo site located near the office of the station is at the lowest elevation, while the Nakayama and Chojidani sites are located at high elevations where the maximum snow depth exceeds 2 m every year. Kamigamo Experimental Station In 1926, the Kamigamo Experimental Station was established at the northern margin of the Kyoto Basin in central Honshu (0.039 km2, 35.066N–35.067N, 135.757E–135.758E, 95–119 m a.s.l.); in 1949, it was relocated to the present location about 600 m northeast of the original site (0.47 km2, 135.759E–135.769E, 35.067N–35.075N, 109–225 m a.s.l.) (Compilation Committee of the One Hundred Years of History at Kyoto University, 1997; https://fserc.kyoto-u.ac.jp/kami/, 10 Feb. 2019, last accessed). Of the total area, 65% is secondary natural forest with Chamaecyparis obtusa, Pinus densiflora, and broadleaf trees such as Quercus serrata, Ilex pedunculosa, and Lyonia ovalifolia, and 28% consists of plantations of foreign coniferous species. Wakayama Forest Research Station Wakayama Forest Research Station was established in the upper part of the Yukawa River Basin, a tributary of the Arita River, in Wakayama Prefecture in central Honshu in 1926 (8.4 km2, 34.042–34.075N, 135.494–135.547E, 455–1,261 m a.s.l.) (Compilation Committee of the One Hundred Years of History at Kyoto University, 1997; http://fserc.kyoto-u.ac.jp/wp/wakayama/, 10 Feb. 2019, last accessed). More than 50% of the station area is covered with C. japonica and C. obtusa plantation. The natural forest is warm-temperate forest at altitudes below 700 m a.s.l. The main species are Quercus acuta, Q. salicina, and I. pedunculosa. In the cool-temperate forest above 1,000 m a.s.l., the main species are F. crenata, Q. crispula, Betula grossa, and Acer species. The area at 700–1,000 m a.s.l. is the transition between the warm- and cool-temperate forests. The main species are Abies firma, Tsuga sieboldii, and Carpinus species. Hokkaido Forest Research Station Hokkaido Forest Research Station is split into two areas: Shibecha and Shiranuka (Compilation Committee of the One Hundred Years of History at Kyoto University, 1997; http://fserc.kyoto-u.ac.jp/wp/hokkaido/, 10 Feb. 2019, last accessed). Both areas are located in eastern Hokkaido. The Shibecha area was established about 45 km inland from the sea in 1949 (14.5 km2, 144.620E–144.670E, 43.325N–43.408N, 25–149 m a.s.l.). The main natural forest species are Fraxinus mandshurica, Q. crispula, Tilia japonica, Betula species, and Alnus hirsuta. The artificial forest covers about 4.2 km2 and about half of it is Larix kaempferi plantation. The main tree species in the other parts of the plantation are Abies sachalinensis and Picea glehnii. The Shiranuka area was established about 5 km from the sea in 1950 (8.8 km2, 42.992N–43.041N, 143.922E–143.977E, 64–270 m a.s.l.). The main natural forest species are A. sachalinensis, Q. crispula, T. japonica, Betula species, and A. hirsuta. Artificial forest covers about 1.3 km2 and about 80% of it is A. sachalinensis plantation. Tokuyama Experimental Station In 1931, Tokuyama Experimental Station was established in the Toishi area in Tokuyama Village, which is now part of Tokuyama City (0.36 km2, detailed location information missing). From 1942 to 1965, it was relocated to Maiguruma (0.20 km2, exact location unknown). In 1966, it was moved to the present site in Hachikubo (0.42 km2, 34.065N–34.075N, 131.830E–131.840E, 102–351 m a.s.l.) (Compilation Committee of the One Hundred Years of History at Kyoto University, 1997; https://fserc.kyoto-u.ac.jp/toku/, 10 Feb. 2019, last accessed). About half of the area of the present station is covered with laurel forest, which is mainly composed of Machilus thunbergii, Castanopsis species, and Quercus species, and the other half is covered with C. japonica and C. obtusa plantations. Shirahama Experimental Station Shirahama Experimental Station was established in southern Wakayama Prefecture in central Honshu (0.74 km2, 33.668N–33.679N, 135.357E–135.371E, 0–150 m a.s.l.) from 1950 to 2000 (Yoshikawa et al. 1982; Compilation Committee of the One Hundred Years of History at Kyoto University, 1997). Most of the station was covered with secondary forests and the main species were Myrica rubra, Daphniphyllum teijsmannii, Quercus phillyraeoides, Ligustrum japonicum, and Myrsine seguinii (Yoshikawa et al. 1982). Karafuto (Sakhalin) Kyoto University Forest Karafuto Kyoto University Forest comprised two areas in the southern part of Sakhalin Island: Kotankeshi and Aton (Compilation Committee of the One Hundred Years of History at Kyoto University, 1997; Kyoto University Forests, 1928). The Kotankeshi area was located about 20 km southwest of Poronaysk (116.2 km2, 142.720–142.965E, 48.885–49.090N, 7–600 m a.s.l.) from 1915 to 1945. The main tree species in this area were P. jezoensis and A. sachalinensis. The Aton area was located about 80 km north of the Kotankeshi area from 1916 to 1945 (82.1 km2, exact location unknown). The main tree species in this area were P. jezoensis and A. sachalinensis at low elevations and Alnus maximowiczii, Betula ermanii, and Pinus pumila at high elevations below the tree line. Chosen (Korea) Kyoto University Forest Chosen Kyoto University Forest was located on the border between Gyeongsangnam-do and Jeollabuk-do Provinces in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula (169.6 km2, 127.453E–127.805E, 35.309N–35.474N, 215–1,915 m a.s.l.) from 1912 to 1945 (Compilation Committee of the One Hundred Years of History at Kyoto University, 1997; Kyoto University Forests, 1928). The main natural forest tree species were Q. crispula at 1,100–1,300 m a.s.l., and P. jezoensis, Abies koreana, Abies holophylla, and Pinus koraiensis at >1,300 m a.s.l. At elevations lower than 1,100 m a.s.l., the main species were potentially Castanea crenata, Styrax japonicus, and Q. serrata. However, most of the area was covered with secondary forests comprising young P. densiflora and Salix species. due to strong human disturbances. At present, most of the forest is managed as Jirisan National Park (http://english.knps.or.kr/Knp/Jirisan/Intro/Introduction.aspx, 30 Nov. 2018 last accessed). Taiwan Kyoto University Forest Taiwan Kyoto University Forest was established in the eastern watershed of the Laku Laku River in Kaohsiung, Taiwan (838.3 km2, 120.656E–121.059E, 22.835N–23.496N, 200–3,700 m a.s.l.) from 1909 to 1945 (Compilation Committee of the One Hundred Years of History at Kyoto University, 1997; Kyoto University Forests, 1928). The main natural forest tree species are Cinnamomum camphora and Quercus species at low elevations, Picea morrisonicola and Abies kawakamii in high mountainous areas, and Chamaecyparis formosensis and C. obtusa in the transition areas between the two. At present, part of the forest is managed by the Forestry Bureau, Council of Agriculture, Taiwan (https://www.forest.gov.tw, 30 Nov. 2018 last accessed).

Step 2:
Description:

B Climate monitoring

Climate monitoring at the Kyoto University forest stations was started at Kitashirakawa Experimental Station, Ashiu Forest Research Station (Sugo and Nakayama), Kamigamo Experimental Station, Karafuto Kyoto University Forest (Tomarikeshi), Chosen Kyoto University Forest (Hamyang), and Taiwan Kyoto University Forest (Liugui and Sanping) in the 1920s (Kyoto University Forests, 1933). In the 1930s, it was initiated at the Chojidani site at Ashiu Forest Research Station, Kamiyukawa site at Wakayama Forest Research Station, Unbong and Macheon sites in the Chosen Kyoto University Forest, and the Chiryu site in the Taiwan Kyoto University Forest. The monitoring at the Nakayama site at Ashiu Forest Research Station ended in 1937 (Kyoto University Forests, 1933, 1938, 1942, 1956; Numata, 1931). Monitoring ended in the Karafuto, Chosen, and Taiwan Kyoto University forests in the 1940s, and started at Tokuyama Experimental Station in 1944 and at the Shibecha and Shiranuka sites at Hokkaido Forest Research Station in the 1950s. The monitoring site at Tokuyama Experimental Station was moved from Maiguruma to Hachikubo in 1967, and monitoring at the Chojidani site was interrupted from 1959 to 1991. From the 1920s to May 1955, climate data were recorded manually by forest station staff at 10 o’clock every morning; the time was changed to 9 o’clock in the morning after June 1955 (Kyoto University Forests, 1933, 1938, 1942, 1956). Then the monthly mean humidity, monthly total precipitation, monthly maximum snow depth, and monthly mean, highest, and lowest air temperature were calculated for all monitoring sites. Automatic recording devices were installed in the late 1970s (Ando et al., 1989; Kyoto University Forests, 1956, 1962). Since 2000, data loggers have been used for monitoring and all data are recorded automatically. In 2011, the definition of the monthly mean air temperature was changed to the mean air temperature measured every hour on the hour every day. Data from hardcopy annual climate reports were manually digitized and checked for typographical errors by at least two investigators for the period when only paper material was available (Table 2). For the period when digital data were available, the climate variables were calculated from the digital data by H. Nakagawa and abnormal values due to possible machine trouble or typographical errors were checked by the other investigators (Table 2). Detailed information on the monitoring methods and the timing of changes are compiled in the archived file Monitoring.csv (Table 3). An observed value with any difference from the previous monitoring method was identified by a different MeasurementID in the file (see 10D. Variable definitions) (Table 4, 5). To examine the effects of changes in monitoring methods (i.e., changes in MeasurementID) on the observed values of each climate variable, we compared values recorded before and after the change for each variable at each monitoring site (Supporting Information).

Step 3:
Description:

C Data verification procedures

Table 2. Changes in data verification procedures at the monitoring sites.

Data Set Usage Rights

This dataset is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode).
Access Control:
Auth System:JaLTER
Order:allowFirst
Allow: [read] public
Additional Metadata
Metadata download: Ecological Metadata Language (EML) File