Keywords: 
• forest ecology /
• forest carbon spatial distribution /
• geostatistics /
• altitude /
• gradient /
• forest carbon density

Abstract: To better understand the forest carbon spatial distribution characteristics in Zhejiang Province，the relationship between forest carbon distribution and terrain （altitude and slope） was studied. This paper employed the Carbon Farming Initiative （CFI） dataset collected in 2009 and the forest carbon spatial distribution information for the whole province along with geostatistical techniques to quantitatively determine the correlation of forest carbon distribution and terrain. Multiple correlation coefficients of the binary quadratic multinomial were formed for the provinces forest carbon density versus terrain altitude and gradient. Results indicated that the multiple correlation coefficients of the binary quadratic multinomial were about r = 0.71. For altitudes of 0 - 400 m and a gradient of 0 - 5，forest carbon density increased fastest. This showed that forest carbon distribution was closely related to terrain and corresponded to the terrain distribution rule that forest carbon density increased with an increase in altitude and in gradient.［Ch，2 fig. 4 tab. 20 ref.］