Canopy interception is often estimated as the difference between total rainfall and throughfall since stemflow is often small (<5% of precipitation). Forest canopy interception rate (IR) is the ratio of canopy inter- ception divided by total rainfall measured above the canopy at certain time intervals.
What is forest interception loss?
When rain falls onto a forest a proportion is intercepted by the canopy and evaporates back into the atmosphere, playing no further part in the terrestrial portion of the hydrologic cycle. This canopy interception loss, I c, can be appreciable (Table 20.1). 2007); varying with both forest characteristics and climate.
What is interception losses?
Interception loss is the portion of the precipitation that is returned to the atmosphere through evaporation from plant surfaces or is absorbed by the plant. It is the diffe- rence between the precipitation actually occurring over an area and the part that reaches the soil.
How much rainfall do trees intercept?
produce more benefits through water quality protection than flood control. ONE OF OUR STUDIES FOUND that a typical medium-sized tree can intercept as much as 2380 gallons of rainfall per year.
How do you calculate interception loss?
Canopy interception loss is calculated as [Gross precipitation – (Throughfall + Stemflow)]. Litter interception loss is generally estimated by collecting litter from a plot of known area immediately before, after, and X days after a storm. The litter is weighed, dried, and weighed again.
What is rainfall interception?
Rainfall interception is the fraction of rain that falls onto vegetation but never reaches the ground, instead evaporating from the wet canopy.
How much water is intercepted by trees?
Research has shown that a thick pile of brash can intercept as much as 15% of annual rainfall, which is similar to that lost from a broadleaved woodland canopy (Johnson, 1995).
What is canopy in hydrology?
Canopy interception is the rainfall that is intercepted by the canopy of a tree and successively evaporates from the leaves. Precipitation that is not intercepted will fall as throughfall or stemflow on the forest floor. They covered the forest floor with plastic sheets and collected the throughfall.
What is interception loss in hydrology?
Interception loss: The water that is retained by vegetation surfaces that is later evaporated into the atmosphere, or absorbed by the plant. Interception loss prevents water from reaching the ground surface and is regarded as a primary water loss.
How precipitation is intercepted?
Interception refers to all processes that prevent rainfall from immediately reaching the soil. Vegetation intercepts water in two ways: by catching rainfall on leaf surfaces throughout the canopy, and through the litter that it deposits on the ground.
What is the role of canopy interception?
Canopy interception generally prevents water from reaching the ground surface, but throughfall affects surface soil moisture distribution (both quantity and quality), while stemflow can alter the vertical distribution of water by quickly funneling water to the base of plants where it can infiltrate rapidly and …
What is interception in rainfall?
Introduction. Rainfall interception is the fraction of rain that falls onto vegetation but never reaches the ground, instead evaporating from the wet canopy.
