Rainfall interception occurs under the canopy by splash droplet evaporation

Abstract

Net rainfall was measured at three different heights, 0.8 m, 2.8 m and 3.8 m above the ground, in a Japanese cedar stand for three months. Gross rainfall was 499.0 mm, while rainfall interception at those heights were 107.4mm, -13.0mm and -12.5mm, respectively. Those values were smaller than those of the previous study at the same site (Murakami and Kitamura, 2023), probably because reduction in the capture rate of raingauge during the two large rain events with strong winds. The results show that most rainfall interception occurred lower than 2.8 m above the ground. Considering there are few leaves and branches below 3.8 m above the ground, the mechanism of rainfall interception is not evaporation from wet canopy but splash droplet evaporation.Reference: Murakami and Kitamura, 2023 https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jshwr/36/0/36_5/_article/-char/en