Greening rate in North Korea doubles South Korea

Abstract South and North Korea have experienced contrasting economic developments since the 1950s while sharing similar climates. Previous studies revealed an overall long-term greening trend across Korean peninsula based on greenness data from coarse-resolution satellite images. However, there has been no comprehensive comparison of patterns driving mechanisms between two countries due to limitations data. Here, we performed cross-calibration among Landsat sensors adopted a phenology-based approach generate annual maximum (NDVImax) time series for each pixel 1986 2017. We found that over 1986–2017, rate in was almost twice Korea. Cropland is main source discrepancy. The expansion agricultural facilities stable cropland area urbanization loss contributed 57% significant negative NDVImax trend, which dominant forest increase resulting rising temperatures, CO2 fertilization effects afforestation projects. Korea, transition grassland promoted NDVImax, despite decreasing areas deforestation. Our results highlight need delineating fine-scale land-use changes advance our understanding regional vegetation dynamics.