Long-term variations of rainfall interception in different growth stages of Chinese fir plantations |
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| Authors: | Wende Yan Xiangwen Deng Xiaoyong Chen Dalun Tian Wenhua Xiang Yuanying Peng |
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| Institution: | 1. Forest Ecology Program, College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China;2. National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Forest Ecological Technology in Southern China, Changsha, Chinaxchen@govst.edu;4. National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Forest Ecological Technology in Southern China, Changsha, China;5. National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Forest Ecological Technology in Southern China, Changsha, China;6. Division of Science, College of Arts and Sciences, Governors State University, University Park, Illinois, USA;7. Natural Sciences Division, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, USA |
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| Abstract: | AbstractThe dynamic properties of rainfall interception were investigated at three growth stages in Chinese fir plantations. The results showed that the annual interception ratio was significantly higher in mature stands than in young stands. For a storm event, interception rainfall amount increased with increasing rainfall, but interception ratio decreased. In contrast to dry season conditions, the interception amount was high in the wet seasons, while the interception ratio was low. The rates of change in interception ratio were extremely rapid in small rainfall events. There was little stemflow in Chinese fir forests due to the pyramid-shaped crowns and thick rough bark of the trees. The power model was suitable to describe the interception process for an individual rainfall event for stands of any age. Our results indicate that the interception process varied for stands of different ages in Chinese fir plantations due to contrasting canopy structures. |
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| Keywords: | Chinese fir plantation rainfall interception interception ratio throughfall stemflow growth stage of forests |
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