Fleischbein, K.; Wilcke, W.; Goller, R.; Valarezo, C.; Zech, W. & Knoblich, K. (2011): <b>Measured and modeled rainfall interception in a lower montane forest, Ecuador</b>. In: L.A. Bruijnzeel, F.N. Scatena & L.S. Hamilton (eds.): <i>Tropical Montane Cloud Forests: Science for Conservation and Management</i> ( ), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 309-316.
Resource Description
Title:
Measured and modeled rainfall interception in a lower montane forest, Ecuador
FOR816dw ID:
924
Publication Date:
2011-01-01
License and Usage Rights:
Resource Owner(s):
Individual:
Katrin Fleischbein
Contact:
email:
webmaster <at> tropicalmountainforest.com
Individual:
Wolfgang Wilcke
Contact:
email:
wolfgang.wilcke <at> kit.edu
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Institute of Geography and Geoecology
Reinhard-Baumeister-Platz 1
76131 Karlsruhe
Baden-Württemberg
Germany
The evaporative loss of intercepted water from the canopy constitutes an important element of the water budget of forests. Starting April 1998, incident precipitation (P), throughfall (TF), and stemflow (SF) were measured in five transects laid out in three small watersheds (~10 ha each) with lower montane rain forest at 1900?2200 m.a.s.l. in South Ecuador. Interception loss (I) was also modeled using the analytical model of Gash (1979). The storage capacity of the leaves and of<br/>
the trunks and branches, as well as the direct throughfall, and stemflow fractions were determined using conventional regression approaches. In addition, apparent total evaporation (ET) was determined from the water budget for the three watersheds. Mean annual P in the first 4 years ranged between 2363 and 2592 mm among the three watersheds. Average I derived from weekly measurements of P, TF, and SF ranged between 2.0 and 3.5 mm/day (i.e. 32?50% of P). Modeled<br/>
average I was similar to measured values at 2.1?3.4 mm/day (32?49% of P). We found that I constituted an important part of the average estimated watershed ET of 3.5?4.3 mm/day. The high evaporative losses are attributed to a combination of low rainfall intensities, the usual absence of fog, high canopy density, abundant<br/>
epiphytes, and advected energy from lower elevations.
Literature type specific fields:
CHAPTER
Chapter Number:
32
Book Editor:
L.A. Bruijnzeel, F.N. Scatena & L.S. Hamilton
Book Title:
Tropical Montane Cloud Forests: Science for Conservation and Management
Page Range:
309-316
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Publication Place:
Cambridge, UK
Total Pages:
768
ISBN:
9780521760355
Metadata Provider:
Individual:
Wolfgang Wilcke
Contact:
email:
wolfgang.wilcke <at> kit.edu
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Institute of Geography and Geoecology
Reinhard-Baumeister-Platz 1
76131 Karlsruhe
Baden-Württemberg
Germany
