基于ALOS数据的遥感植被分类研究

以广西平南县的植被覆盖为研究对象,以ALOS为遥感数据源,并对其进行了数据处理,运用信息量、相关系数及OIF方法,分析数据的波段特征;采用决策树分类算法,根据各种植被光谱特征建立知识库,提出基于光谱信息的植被分类方法,并将其与传统的监督分类方法进行了比较。结果表明:基于光谱特征的植被遥感信息提取方法分类总体精度显著提高,Kappa系数达到0.877;采用Landsat—5 TM遥感影像对该方法进行推广,分类总体精度为86.09%,Kappa系数为0.83。结果表明该分类方法能有效地对植被进行分类与识别,并对不同数据源的植被分类有一定的普适性,为实现植被的自动化提取提供了理论依据和方法。     

基于K-T变换和主成分变换的植被信息提取

WorldView-2能够提供1个0.5 m全色波段和8个1.8 m分辨率的多光谱波段,为用户提供进行精确变化检测和制图的能力。本研究以深圳市植被为例,采用WorldView-2高分辨率遥感影像为数据源,进行缨帽变换及主成分分析处理,利用决策树分类模型进行提取。结果表明:WorldView-2影像经过缨帽变换及主成分分析处理后,能够明显增强影像的纹理信息,突出地物特征,并以各地物在经过缨帽变换及主成分分析处理之后的灰度值作为决策树分类的阈值,分类的总体精度、Kappa系数分别为89.26%、0.87,与以往的只利用波段的灰度值及植被指数等作为阈值相比,精度明显提高,方法也得到改善,得到了比较好的分类结果。     

顾及植被季相节律的滨海湿地类型动态变化研究

基于盐城国家级珍禽自然保护区核心区2014年3个月份的Landsat 8遥感影像及其矢量数据,采用基于CART算法的决策树分类方法提取研究区芦苇、碱蓬、米草、鱼塘、浅滩、海域等湿地信息,并分析2014年植被变化情况。其中采用植被指数NDVI,RVI,DVI时间序列光谱分析曲线获得湿地植被类型窗口期,通过各植被指数、第一主成分分量、缨帽变换、原始波段(红外、近红外)、非监督分类影像等因子构建时序因子集。结果表明:1)3—12月份为植被分类窗口期,芦苇、碱蓬、米草区分度最大;2)CART算法的决策树分类方法对盐城湿地植被区分度较好,3个月份影像分类总体精度分别为99.88%,99.18%和97.61%,Kappa系数分别为0.99,0.99和0.97;3)2014年间,芦苇的面积从61.69km~2增长到63.08km2,米草从38.01km~2增加到44.78km~2,碱蓬从26.37km~2锐减到19.63km~2。     

基于高分辨率遥感影像多维度特征的树种识别方法研究

以北京市西山试验林场为研究区域,利用Worldview—2影像构建各树种的光谱特征、地形特征、植被指数特征、纹理特征以及形态特征,建立关于山地森林树种识别的知识。采用基于像元和面向对象的方法进行树种识别分类。在基于像元的分类方法中,选择决策树分类和支持向量机分类;在面向对象的分类方法中,选择基于边缘检测的方法分割影像,用最近邻法分类。决策树分类的总体分类精度为65.62%,Kappa系数为0.588 9;支持向量机分类的总体分类精度为62.42%,Kappa系数为0.552 8;面向对象的分类方法总体分类精度为64.27%,Kappa系数为0.580 2。     

基于多角度融合的CHRIS数据提取湿地植被的研究

[目的]利用多角度高光谱数据,分析不同角度下东洞庭湖湿地典型植被群落的光谱特征,确定多角度信息融合的最佳方法,并对融合影像进行湿地植被类型精细识别。[方法]使用CHRIS多角度高光谱数据,针对洞庭湖湿地植被的光谱特征,研究计算窄波段NDVI的最佳波段组合和角度,评价CHRIS 0°影像与NDVI的像素级融合方法,进而对洞庭湖地区湿地植被进行提取。[结果]计算NDVI的最佳红波段和近红外波段分别位于667.6 nm和926.95 nm,对应于CHRIS数据的第24波段和第55波段;选取HSV、Brovery、Gram-Schmidt和PCA 4种融合方法进行融合,发现PCA融合图像的光谱信息丢失最少、纹理细节更丰富,信息量最大;PCA融合影像的总体精度为81.36%,比单角度影像提高7.93%,Kappa系数提高0.097 6,且苔草的漏分误差和泥蒿的错分误差得到明显改善。[结论]基于NDVI的多角度信息融合是提高湿地植被识别精度的一种有效途径,多角度信息融合丰富了地物的信息量,提高地物识别精度。     

基于时序NDVI数据的洞庭湖区湿地植被类型信息提取

洞庭湖湿地是我国及国际重要的湖泊湿地,基于遥感时空融合模型,通过融合高时间分辨率的MODIS数据与中等空间分辨率的Landsat数据,得到时序Landsat NDVI数据,并利用时序Landsat NDVI数据对湿地植被信息进行提取。研究结果表明,该方法能够有效提取研究区湿地植被类型,总体分类精度与Kappa系数分别为91.52%与0.85,较单时相Landsat8 OLI光谱影像总体分类精度与Kappa系数分别提高了4.16%和0.03。苔草沼泽、芦苇沼泽、杨树林沼泽和水稻田几种湿地植被的分类精度提高较为明显,用户精度分别提高了2.35%,0.67%,10.47%和4.75%,生产者精度则分别提高了3.57%,2.31%,10.11%和6.21%。研究结果可为阴雨天气较多的南方地区的湿地信息提取提供有效的技术和方法。     

资源3号卫星影像的植被信息提取

资源3号卫星(ZY-3)是我国2012年发射成功的第一颗自主民用高分辨率立体测绘卫星。在对ZY-3卫星数据精细处理基础上,分析了典型地物的光谱特征和纹理特征,构建了适合植被信息提取的ZY-3决策树模型,将研究区地类分为针叶林、阔叶林、灌木林、竹林、耕地、建设用地、裸露地、水体和其他地类共9种地类,开展植被信息提取和精度检验。结果表明:(1)ZY-3比较适合于森林植被信息的提取,特别是针叶林和阔叶林;(2)ZY-3数据的总体分类效果较好,精度达到了91.96%,Kappa系数0.902 9,说明根据影像的光谱特征和纹理特征,采用决策树算法选择合适的阈值提取植被信息是可行的。     

面向对象CART决策树方法的湿地遥感分类

[目的]以北京地区为例,对大区域多类型湿地信息提取方法进行研究。[方法]采用面向对象多尺度分割算法及光谱差异分割算法分割Landsat8 OLI遥感影像,辅助Google Earth高清影像及2015年人工解译结果,使用分层抽样法随机产生训练样本与验证样本;综合运用光谱、形状、纹理特征及拓扑关系,构建CART决策树模型提取研究区湿地信息;与最大似然法、面向对象最邻近方法的分类结果进行对比。[结果]利用面向对象CART决策树方法,分类结果的总精度为88.05%,Kappa系数为0.844,相较于面向对象最邻近方法,总体精度、Kappa系数相差不大,但针对部分湿地类型,如河流、沼泽湿地,精度提高了10%～20%;比使用最大似然分类法的总精度高近30%,Kappa系数提高0.355。[结论]对于湿地分布广泛、类型及数量较多的地区,面向对象CART决策树方法分类结果较好,是一种快速、有效的分类方法。     

基于随机森林算法构建Hyperion影像云和云阴影掩模

遥感数据的判读应用不可避免地要受到云和云阴影的干扰,这导致影像中地物信息不完整,给后续影像解译和处理带来障碍。采用最佳波段指数方法筛选出经过预处理的Hyperion高光谱影像最佳波段组合,达到波段去相关、信息含量最大并减少运算量的目的。基于不同地物类型的光谱曲线,采用随机森林算法提取Hyperion影像中云和云阴影信息,建立相应的掩模。研究结果表明,基于经验阈值的决策树分类精度达96.36%,随机森林算法的分类精度达98.86%,Kappa系数为0.951 2,具有更好的分类效果。利用随机森林算法建立高光谱影像云和云阴影掩模,由于随机森林算法是建立在多个决策树分类器结果基础上,避免了单一决策树分类器带来的误分类现象,较好地去除了云和云阴影对遥感解译的影响。     

基于高分一号影像光谱指数识别火烧迹地的决策树方法

森林火灾发生后,为及时、准确地掌握森林受灾情况,利用高分一号卫星(GF-1)16m宽幅影像各波段反射率信息,结合计算的归一化植被指数(NDVI)、过火区识别指数(BAI)、阴影植被指数(SVI)、归一化差异水体指数(NDWI)和全球环境监测指数(GEMI)等5种光谱指数,构建森林火烧迹地识别决策树模型(CART);在选取的研究区对该模型方法进行验证,并与最大似然监督分类法和非监督分类(ISODATA)方法所得到的结果精度进行了对比分析,结果表明:采用基于CART模型的决策树方法对火烧迹地识别结果精度较最大似然法总体分类精度提高了4.38%,Kappa系数提高了0.102 4,制图精度提高了14.96%,用户精度提高了8.50%;而采用ISODATA方法识别的火烧迹地的总体精度和Kappa系数都较低,制图精度和用户精度都没有达到1%。     

Tangential and radial shrinkage variation within trees in sugi (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis>) cultivars

The transverse shrinkage variation within trees was examined for five sugi cultivars. The within-tree trends of tangential shrinkage (α _T) were different by cultivar, whereas radial shrinkage (α _R) increased from pith to bark in most cultivars. The tangential/radial shrinkage ratio (α _T/α _R) decreased from pith to bark in most cultivars, because the radial variation of α _R was larger than that of α _T. The cultivars showed significant differences among cultivars in α _T, α _R, and α _T/α _R, but the difference among cultivars for α _T/α _R was smaller. The relationships between transverse shrinkage and microfi bril angle (MFA), basic density (BD), tree ring parameters, and modulus of elasticity were examined. The α _T and α _R showed positive relationships with BD, latewood percentage, latewood density, and modulus of elasticity, and negative relationships with MFA and ring width. The relationships with earlywood density were weak. Sugi exhibited variation in transverse shrinkage within stem and among cultivars, with the variation affected by MFA, density, and tree ring parameters. Part of this article was presented at the 56th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Akita, Japan, August 2006, and the 57th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Hiroshima, Japan, August 2007     

The pharmacokinetical study of plant alkaloid tetrandrine with a simple HPLC method in rabbits

A simple HPLC method was developed to quantify rabbit plasma tetrandrine (Tet) with propranolol (Pro) as internal standard. Based on the established method Tet and Pro were eluted at 7.1 and 12.0 min, respectively. It was shown that the concentration-time data of Tet fit the classical two-compartment model, no matter the drug was administered intravenously or orally to rabbits. The values of AUC_0 → ∞, clearance (Cl_0 → ∞), volume of distribution (Vd), and elimination half-life (t_1/2β) of Tet were 59861.149 ± 26962.196 μg/L ? min, 0.503 ± 0.173 L/min/kg, 179 ± 76.185 L/kg, and 283.808 ± 162.937 min for intravenous injection of 5 mg/kg, or 18986.217 ± 7462.308 μg/L ? min, 0.805 ± 0.267 L/min/kg, 110.284 ± 94.176 L/kg, and 732.919 ± 847.32 min for gavage administration of 10 mg/kg , respectively. The results indicate that Tet displays a limited absorption in intestinal tract, even though it has a favorable pharmacokinetic profile after oral or intravenous administration.     

Aboveground biomass and nitrogen in four short-rotation woody crop species growing with different water and nutrient availabilities

We quantified the effect of water and nutrient availability on aboveground biomass and nitrogen accumulation and partitioning in four species from the southeastern United States, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), slash pine (Pinus elliottii), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and sycamore (Platanus occidentalis). The 6-year-old stands received five levels of resource input (control, irrigation with 3.05 cm water week⁻¹, irrigation + 57 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, irrigation + 85 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, and irrigation + 114 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). Irrigation significantly increased foliage, stem, and branch biomass for sweetgum and sycamore, culminating in 103% and 238% increases in total aboveground biomass. Fertilization significantly increased aboveground components for all species resulting in 49, 58, 281, and 132% increases in total aboveground biomass for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Standing total aboveground biomass of the fertilized treatments reached 79, 59, 48, and 54 Mg ha⁻¹ for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Fertilization increased foliar nitrogen concentration for loblolly pine, sweetgum, and sycamore foliage. Irrigation increased total stand nitrogen content by 6, 14, 93, and 161% for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Fertilization increased total nitrogen content by 62, 53, 172, and 69% with maximum nitrogen contents of 267, 212, 237, and 203 kg ha⁻¹ for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Growth efficiency (stem growth per unit of leaf biomass) and nitrogen use efficiency (stem growth per unit of foliar nitrogen content) increased for the sycamore and sweetgum, but not the loblolly or slash pine.     

Tephrosia species and provenances for improved fallows in southern Africa

Seeking an alternative to Sesbania spp. tree fallows, a Tephrosia species and provenance trial was conducted at Msekera Research Station, Chipata (Zambia) to evaluate eleven Tephrosia vogelii and three Tephrosia candida provenances. They were tested for biomass production, quality of biomass, resistance to root-knot nematodes, nitrogen release, and for their effects on soil nitrogen dynamics. At the end of 1.5 years, the T. candida provenances 02970, 02971 and 02972 from Madagascar produced two times greater amount of aboveground biomass than the T. vogelii provenances. There was little variability among the T. vogelii provenances in terms of litter and biomass production. Weed growth was significantly greater under T. vogelii than T. candida provenances. While Tephrosia vogelii provenance 98/02 from Zambia and T. candida 02972 were highly tolerant to the Meloidogyne incognita nematodes, T. vogelii provenances 02977, 98/03, 02973 from Kenya, Zambia and Malawi, respectively, were highly susceptible to the nematodes. The Tephrosia species and provenances showed a wide variability in terms of N, lignin and polyphenol concentration in their foliage. Mineralization of N in the foliage of T. candida provenances 02970 and 02971 and T. vogelii provenances 98/04 and 02974 from Malawi occurred rapidly within 14 weeks of incubation. At the end of the 2-year growth period, there was significantly greater total inorganic N under T. candida provenance 02972 (12.5 mg kg⁻¹) than T. vogelii (5 mg kg⁻¹) provenance Mungwi 98/02. Maize (Zea mays L.) yields after T. candida provenances were greater than those after T. vogelii provenances. Further testing of the most promising provenances is needed for their effects on subsequent maize yields under a range of farm conditions. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influences of forest tending works on carbon distribution and cycling in a Pinus densiflora S. et Z. stand in Korea

This study was conducted to determine carbon (C) dynamics following forest tending works (FTW) which are one of the most important forest management activities conducted by Korean forest police and managers. We measured organic C storage (above- and below-ground biomass C, forest floor C, and soil C at 50 cm depth), soil environmental factors (soil CO₂ efflux, soil temperature, soil water content, soil pH, and soil organic C concentration), and organic C input and output (litterfall and litter decomposition rates) for one year in FTW and non-FTW (control) stands of approximately 40-year-old red pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) forests in the Hwangmaesan Soopkakkugi model forest in Sancheonggun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. This forest was thinned in 2005 as a representative FTW practice. The total C stored in tree biomass was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the FTW stand (40.17 Mg C ha⁻¹) than in the control stand (64.52 Mg C ha⁻¹). However, C storage of forest floor and soil layers measured at four different depths was not changed by FTW, except for that at the surface soil depth (0–10 cm). The organic C input due to litterfall and output due to needle litter decomposition were both significantly lower in the FTW stand than in the control stand (2.02 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ vs. 2.80 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and 308 g C kg⁻¹ year⁻¹ vs. 364 g C kg⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively, both P < 0.05). Soil environmental factors were significantly affected (P < 0.05) by FTW, except for soil CO₂ efflux rates and organic C concentration at soil depth of 0–20 cm. The mean annual soil CO₂ efflux rates were the same in the FTW (0.24 g CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹) and control (0.24 g CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹) stands despite monthly variations of soil CO₂ efflux over the one-year study period. The mean soil organic C concentration at a soil depth of 0–20 cm was lower in the FTW stand (81.3 g kg⁻¹) than in the control stand (86.4 g kg⁻¹) but the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). In contrast, the mean soil temperature was significantly higher, the mean soil water content was significantly lower, and the soil pH was significantly higher in the FTW stand than in the control stand (10.34 °C vs. 8.98 °C, 48.2% vs. 56.4%, and pH 4.83 vs. pH 4.60, respectively, all P < 0.05). These results indicated that FTW can influence tree biomass C dynamics, organic C input and output, and soil environmental factors such as soil temperature, soil water content and soil pH, while soil C dynamics such as soil CO₂ efflux rates and soil organic C concentration were little affected by FTW in a red pine stand.     

Carbon dioxide exchange of a larch forest after a typhoon disturbance

A typhoon event catastrophically destroyed a 45-year-old Japanese larch plantation in southern Hokkaido, northern Japan in September 2004, and about 90% of trees were blown down. Vegetation was measured to investigate its regeneration process and CO₂ flux, or net ecosystem production (NEP), was measured in 2006–2008 using an automated chamber system to investigate the effects of typhoon disturbance on the ecosystem carbon balance. Annual maximum aboveground biomass (AGB) increased from 2.7 Mg ha⁻¹ in 2006 to 4.0 Mg ha⁻¹ in 2007, whereas no change occurred in annual maximum leaf area index (LAI), which was 3.7 m² m⁻² in 2006 and 3.9 m² m⁻² in 2007. Red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) had become dominant within 2 years after the typhoon disturbance, and came to account for about 60% and 50% of AGB and LAI, respectively. In comparison with CO₂ fluxes measured by the eddy covariance technique in 2001–2003, for 4.5 months during the growing season, the sum of gross primary production (GPP) decreased on average by 739 gC m⁻² (64%) after the disturbance, whereas ecosystem respiration (RE) decreased by 501 gC m⁻² (51%). As a result, NEP decreased from 159 ± 57 gC m⁻² to −80 ± 30 gC m⁻², which shows that the ecosystem shifted from a carbon sink to a source. Seasonal variation in RE was strongly correlated to soil temperature. The interannual variation in the seasonal trend of RE was small. Light-saturated GPP (P_max) decreased from 30–45 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ to 8–12 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ during the summer season through the disturbance because of large reduction in LAI.     

Post-fire soil respiration in relation to burnt wood management in a Mediterranean mountain ecosystem

After a wildfire, the management of burnt wood may determine microclimatic conditions and microbiological activity with the potential to affect soil respiration. To experimentally analyze the effect on soil respiration, we manipulated a recently burned pine forest in a Mediterranean mountain (Sierra Nevada National and Natural Park, SE Spain). Three representative treatments of post-fire burnt wood management were established at two elevations: (1) “salvage logging” (SL), where all trees were cut, trunks removed, and branches chipped; (2) “non-intervention” (NI), leaving all burnt trees standing; and (3) “cut plus lopping” (CL), a treatment where burnt trees were felled, with the main branches lopped off, but left in situ partially covering the ground surface. Seasonal measurements were carried out over the course of two years. In addition, we performed continuous diurnal campaigns and an irrigation experiment to ascertain the roles of soil temperature and moisture in determining CO₂ fluxes across treatments. Soil CO₂ fluxes were highest in CL (average of 3.34 ± 0.19 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and the lowest in SL (2.21 ± 0.11 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹). Across seasons, basal values were registered during summer (average of 1.46 ± 0.04 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), but increased during the humid seasons (up to 10.07 ± 1.08 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ in spring in CL). Seasonal and treatment patterns were consistent at the two elevations (1477 and 2317 m a.s.l.), although respiration was half as high at the higher altitude.Respiration was mainly controlled by soil moisture. Watering during the summer drought boosted CO₂ effluxes (up to 37 ± 6 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ just after water addition), which then decreased to basal values as the soil dried. About 64% of CO₂ emissions during the first 24 h could be attributed to the degasification of soil pores, with the rest likely related to biological processes. The patterns of CO₂ effluxes under experimental watering were similar to the seasonal tendencies, with the highest pulse in CL. Temperature, however, had a weak effect on soil respiration, with Q₁₀ values of ca. 1 across seasons and soil moisture conditions. These results represent a first step towards illustrating the effects of post-fire burnt wood management on soil respiration, and eventually carbon sequestration.     

Dry matter partitions and specific leaf weight of soybean change with tree competition in an intercropping system

In 2004 and 2005, the yield, leaf area, dry weight and dry weight partitions of soybeans were determined at the Agroforestry Research Site (ARS) (est. 1987, Ontario, Canada). Soybean was intercropped with poplar (Populus deltoides x nigra DN-177 L., 556 m³crown tree⁻¹), silver maple (Acer saccharinum L., 308 m³), black walnut (Juglans nigra L., 148 m³) and pecan (Carya illinoensis Wangenh., 114 m³), or grown alone (monoculture). Yield of soybean was not different in either year between the monoculture and the black walnut or pecan intercrops. In the poplar and silver maple treatments, yield was 66 and 85% (2004 and 2005) lower than in the monoculture. Despite the fact that different tree species were used, there was a significant negative linear regression between yield and tree crown volume (R ² = 0.76, P = 0.0049 and R ² = 0.93, P < 0.0001 in 2004 and 2005, respectively). With increasing tree crown volume, soybean tended to partition more dry matter to the photosynthetic and reproductive parts and less to structural tissue and petiole. This demonstrates the phenotypic flexibility of the crop component in agroforestry systems. Contrary to theoretical predictions, soybean leaves were thicker as shade increased (increase by 6.2 × 10⁻⁴–1.2 × 10⁻³ mg cm⁻², per unit of crown volume), pointing to competitive interactions specific to tree-based intercrops.     

Effects of seed water content and storage temperature on the germination parameters of white spruce, black spruce and lodgepole pine seed

The effect of seed water content (WC) (2–3, 5–6 and 22–25%, on a fresh weight basis), storage temperature (+4, −20, −80 and −196°C) and storage duration (6, 12, 24, 48 and 60 months) on the germination of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) seed was investigated. Germination of white spruce control (untreated) seeds and seeds adjusted to 2–3% and 5–6% WC declined after 48 months of storage at −80 and −196°C, with a further decline at 60 months at −20, −80, −196°C. Germination remained high when control white spruce seeds and seeds with 2–3, 5–6% WC were stored at +4°C, over all storage durations. Generally, black spruce and lodgepole pine exhibited high germination at all storage temperatures at 2–3% and 5–6% WC as well as the control (untreated) seed, for up to 60 months in storage. Germination declined for all three species when seed was conditioned to 22–25% WC. This loss in germination was partially recovered in white spruce seed stored at +4, −20 and −80°C after storage durations of 24, 12 and 48 months, respectively, and in black spruce seeds stored at −20 and −196°C after storage durations of 24 months. Mean germination time (MGT) was relatively constant for all species, under all conditions, except for seed conditioned to 22–25% WC, where MGT increased for white spruce seed stored 48 months at −80 and −196°C, and for black spruce seed stored 24 months at +4 and −80°C and 60 months at −196°C. These results show that the optimal storage temperatures are 4°C for white spruce, and 4, −20, −80, and −196°C for black spruce and lodgepole pine, and 2–6% water content is optimal for all 3 species at these temperatures.     

Reaction behavior of lignin in supercritical methanol as studied with lignin model compounds

 The reaction behavior and kinetics of lignin model compounds were studied in supercritical methanol with a batch-type supercritical biomass conversion system. Guaiacol, veratrole, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, and 1,2,3-trimethoxybenzene were used as model compounds for aromatic rings in lignin. In addition, 5-5, β-1, β-O-4, and α-O-4 types of dimeric lignin model compounds were used as representatives of linkages in lignin. As a result, aromatic rings and 5-5 (biphenyl)-type structures were stable in supercritical methanol, and the β-1 linkage was not cleaved in the β-1-type structure but converted rapidly to stilbene. On the other hand, β-ether and α-ether linkages of β-O-4 and α-O-4 lignin model compounds were cleaved rapidly, and these compounds decomposed to some monomeric compounds. Phenolic compounds were found to be more reactive than nonphenolic compounds. These results indicate that cleavages of ether linkages mainly contribute to the depolymerization of lignin, whereas condensed linkages such as the 5-5 and β-1 types are not cleaved in supercritical methanol. Therefore, it is suggested that the supercritical methanol treatment effectively depolymerizes lignin into the lower-molecular-weight products as a methanol-soluble portion mainly by cleavage of the β-ether structure, which is the dominant linkage in lignin. Received: December 19, 2001 / Accepted: April 30, 2002 Acknowledgments This research has been done under the research program for the development of technologies for establishing an ecosystem based on recycling in rural villages for the twenty-first century from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan; by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)(2) (no.12460144, 2001.4–2003.3) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan; and under the research program from Kansai Research Foundation for Technology Promotion, Japan. The authors thank them for their financial support. This study was presented in part at the 45th Lignin Symposium, Ehime, Japan, October 2000 and the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Gifu, Japan, April 2002 Correspondence to:S. Saka