Interception of rainfall by a redwood canopy in the north coast of California
Graduation Date
1971
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Other
Program
Thesis (M.S.)--Humboldt State University, 1971
Committee Chair Name
F. Dean Freeland
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Humboldt State University -- Theses -- Watershed Management, Redwood, Coast redwood, Hydrology, Forest influences
Abstract
Rainfall interception losses and net throughfall amounts were compared with gross rainfall in a redwood (Sequoia sempervirens ABSTRACT: (D. Don) Endl.) stand in the fall season of 1970. A total of 15 storms were studied. Since stemflow was shown to be insignificant, interception loss was the difference between gross rainfall and net through- fall. The study area was the NW1/4, SE1/4, Sec. 28, T5N, R1E in Freshwater, California. Five study plots were used, each containing six sample trees. Trees of dominant, co-dominant, and intermediate crown classes were used. Basic number 10 cans were used as "catch cans" and placed at intervals of 2, 4, and 6 feet from the tree bole. Recording raingages were used to measure gross rainfall. Net throughfall ranged from 60.4% to 82.8% of gross rainfall. Net throughfall is a linear function of gross rainfall and is closely correlated to storm intensity, rainfall amount, and crown length. There also seems to be a relationship between net throughfall and basal area per acre but since I only sampled certain clusters of trees as a part of the entire stand and thus do not have acceptable "samples" of stand stocking, this can only be stated as a possible relation. Average interception losses were found to range from 17.2% to 36.9% of gross rainfall and crown length, and is also closely related to storm intensity, storm frequency, rainfall amount and possibly to basal area per acre.
Recommended Citation
Rains, Michael T., "Interception of rainfall by a redwood canopy in the north coast of California" (1971). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 1290.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/1290
https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/v118rg83k