The role of the residential urban forest in regulating throughfall: A case study in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Inkiläinen, Elina; McHale, Melissa R.; Blank, Gary; James, April L.; Nikinmaa, Eero

doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2013.07.002

Cited by 79 publications

(65 citation statements)

References 36 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Several studies have reported higher leafless period canopy interception in the mixed forests due to the seasonal variation in rainfall intensity (Bryant et al 2005;Šraj et al 2008b;Moreno Perez et al 2013), which may obscure changes caused by the decreasing leaf area (Inkiläinen et al 2013). Šraj et al (2008b) demonstrated clear differences in rainfall intensities among seasons.…”

Section: Canopy Interception In Relation To Rainfall Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Canopy interception was calculated from a simple mass balance equation often used to describe precipitation partitioning (Crockford and Richardson 2000;Xiao and McPherson 2002;Toba and Ohta 2005;Herbst et al 2008;Barbier et al 2009;Gerrits et al 2010;Inkiläinen et al 2013;Zabret et al 2016):…”

Section: Collection Of Rainfall Partitioning Componentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Those are all stand structure variables which contribute to higher canopy interception (Toba and Ohta 2005;Dietz et al 2006;Vilhar 2016). Conifers tend to have greater interception capacity than deciduous trees (Inkiläinen et al 2013) and large trees with considerable canopy surface area can decrease throughfall by intercepting a substantial fraction of bulk precipitation (Brauman et al 2010). In an urban park in the city of Ljubljana, coniferous tree species (Pinus sylvestris) exhibited evidently higher canopy interception (51-65% of bulk precipitation) compared to deciduous tree (Betula pendula; 23- Fig.…”

Section: Canopy Interception In Relation To Stand Structure Of Urbanmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Stand-scale studies of natural urban forests (e.g., Xiao et al 1998;Xiao and McPherson 2002;Asadian and Weiler 2009;Inkiläinen et al 2013) throughfall, canopy interception and stemflow (the spatially localized fraction of precipitation that is intercepted by the tree cover and subsequently flows down the branches and stem to the base of the tree; Levia and Frost 2003) have been largely overlooked (Inkiläinen et al 2013), even in temperate regions. Previous studies have generally focused on rural forests and isolated street trees.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In streets, parks and natural forested areas interception accounted for on average 76.5% and 56.4% of bulk precipitation for coniferous and deciduous trees (Asadian 2007). For a broad-leaved deciduous urban forest, Inkiläinen et al (2013) reported throughfall from 78.1% to 88.9% of bulk precipitation, indicating 9.1-24.1% rainfall interception. Seasonally, the floodplain hardwood forest and the riparian pine forest exhibited considerably higher leafed period canopy interception compared to that in the leafless period (Fig.…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Canopy precipitation interception in urban forests in relation to stand structure

Kermavnar

Vilhar

2017

Urban Ecosyst

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Urban forests provide important ecosystem services. In terms of hydrological benefits, forest ecosystems in urban environments represent qualitative and quantitative filter for rainwater. We quantified the canopy interception in relation to urban forest stand structure and rainfall intensity in an urban transect of the mixed (upland) forest in the city centre, towards a riparian pine forest and a floodplain hardwood forest in the City of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Bulk precipitation in open areas and throughfall were measured with fixed rainfall collectors in each forest. Stemflow was estimated from a review of relevant literature. We found that canopy interception in selected urban forests was mainly affected by tree species composition and other stand structure variables, such as canopy cover and tree dimensions. Average annual canopy interception was highest in the mixed forest (18.0% of bulk precipitation), while the riparian pine forest had the lowest level (3.9% of bulk precipitation) and the floodplain hardwood forest had the intermediate level for interception (7.1% of bulk precipitation). The mixed forest exhibited the stand structure factors that contributed to the highest canopy interception among the studied forests: high assemblage of dominant coniferous trees, denser canopy cover and the highest growing stock. Furthermore, rainfall intensity has proven to be an important factor for the seasonal partitioning (comparing the leafed and leafless period) of canopy interception. A better understanding of precipitation interception processes in urban forests is needed to assist urban forest managing and planning, aiming at maximizing canopy interception for the mitigation of stormwater runoff and flooding in urbanized watershed.

show abstract

Section: Canopy Interception In Relation To Rainfall Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Collection Of Rainfall Partitioning Componentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Canopy Interception In Relation To Stand Structure Of Urbanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 98%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Canopy precipitation interception in urban forests in relation to stand structure

Kermavnar

Vilhar

2017

Urban Ecosyst

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Rainfall Interception by Urban Trees and Their Impact on Potential Surface Runoff

Zabret

Šraj

2019

CLEAN Soil Air Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Urbanization changes the natural environment, alters land use, and affects the hydrological cycle. Due to decreased infiltration, runoff appears faster with higher flow peaks. A nature‐based solution is to plant trees because they intercept precipitation and help to reduce water reaching the ground, forming surface runoff. Rainfall partitioning for birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) trees is measured in the city of Ljubljana, Slovenia, during 2014 and 2015. The measured values for two consecutive years are used to estimate potential surface runoff reduction due to planting of the trees at a parking lot. The results demonstrate that birch and pine trees intercepted 23 and 45% of gross rainfall, respectively. Both tree species intercept more rainfall in the leafed period. Additionally, rainfall interception during wet (2014) and dry (2015) years has been compared. In 2014 rainfall interception is highly influenced by rainfall intensity, while it has a negligible impact on rainfall interception in 2015, when air temperature is more influential. The scenario of covering 10% of the parking lot area with the trees results in runoff reduction of up to 7.3% per year. In general, runoff reduction is higher in a wet rather than a dry year. The new findings about the performance of different tree species in different climate conditions can offer valuable information for the decision makers and landscape designers about the benefits of trees in urban areas.

show abstract

Quantifying the benefits of urban forest systems as a component of the green infrastructure stormwater treatment network

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The use of green infrastructure for reducing stormwater runoff is increasingly common. One under‐studied component of the green infrastructure network is the urban forest system. Trees can play an important role as the “first line of defense” for restoring more natural hydrologic regimes in urban watersheds by intercepting rainfall, delaying runoff, infiltrating, and transpiring captured stormwater. However, inadequate research quantifying the urban tree contribution to rainfall/runoff processes limits their promotion by stormwater managers. The purpose of this literature review is to highlight the limited research performed, document areas of need for quantifying the benefits of urban trees for stormwater management, and provide a basis for providing credits for trees in stormwater designs. Recent research has shown that urban trees can retain a sizable volume of annual rainfall in their crowns, delay the flow of stormwater runoff, substantially increase the infiltration capacity of urban soils, and provide transpiration of sequestered runoff for additional stormwater storage. Tree canopy effectiveness is highest during short, low‐intensity storms and lower as rainfall volume and intensity increases. While soils are the best medium to store and filter stormwater, trees may be integrated with other runoff reduction strategies to bring more natural hydrologic processes to urban watersheds by taking advantage of multiple points of retention. Gaps remain in the body of research, but there is a basis for considering trees an integral part of the watershed‐scale green infrastructure network that helps reduce the volume and intensity of urban stormwater runoff.

show abstract

The role of the residential urban forest in regulating throughfall: A case study in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Cited by 79 publications

References 36 publications

Canopy precipitation interception in urban forests in relation to stand structure

Canopy precipitation interception in urban forests in relation to stand structure

Rainfall Interception by Urban Trees and Their Impact on Potential Surface Runoff

Quantifying the benefits of urban forest systems as a component of the green infrastructure stormwater treatment network

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About