Peak flows from thin sedum-moss roof

Abstract

The runoff from real 3 cm thick sedum-moss roofs and from laboratory roof plots in southern Sweden is measured and analysed. Real rains and artificial storms are used for the analysis. The probability of high runoff is compared with the probability of high precipitation intensity. Intensity–duration–frequency curves for runoff are derived and it is found that the runoff of 1.5 year return period corresponds to rain of 0.4 year return period. The storage of water in the soil–vegetation cover on the roof is determined. The storage at field capacity, when runoff is initiated, is about 9 mm. Water in excess of that is temporary stored during storms. The runoff distribution during prolonged storms can be related to the mean rain intensity over 20–30 min. The influence of the slope and length of the roof on the runoff peak is investigated as is the effect of the drainage layer. Neither slope nor length seems to significantly influence the runoff distribution, which indicates that the vertical percolation process through the vegetation and the soil dominates the rainfall–runoff process. The presence of a drainage layer below the soil results in somewhat faster runoff compared to when there is no drainage layer, and thus results in an increased runoff peak.